Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – July 1, 2009
July 1, 2009
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APIC: Recession hits IPs, shortsighted cuts endanger patients and drive future costs
In findings that dramatically undercut the growing perception that infection prevention has become a top priority for the health care system, many IPs are having budgets slashed and critical functions such as surveillance compromised, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) reported recently in Fort Lauderdale, FL, at the group's annual conference. -
Numbing numbers: IPs report deep cuts
The principal findings of a recent economic survey by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology include the following: -
IP tech: Surveillance tools boost power of prevention
Though many infection preventionists are inundated with data reporting requirements and are having difficulty maintaining routine surveillance activities, health care administrators are reluctant to provide them with "data mining" software, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) reports. -
Joint Commission calls on CEOs to fight MDROs
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as those common in staph and enterococci strains are increasingly the cause of infection, prolonged illness and death among a large patient population, The Joint Commission emphasizes in a new report aimed at health care senior leaders. -
CDC: Airborne risk behind N95s for H1N1
The Centers for Disease Control continues to reassess its infection control guidelines for pandemic influenza A H1N1, but has held to a controversial N95 respirator recommendation due to the possibility of airborne spread that would make standard surgical masks ineffective, said Michael Bell, MD, associate director for Infection Control in the CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. -
HCV outbreaks: What is risk to health workers?
Recent outbreaks of hepatitis C are a wake-up call to boost infection control practices, particularly in outpatient settings. But they also underscore the prevalence of HCV and the continued occupational risk to health care workers. -
iPNewbe: IP newbie: Get thee certified
IPs today must be willing to learn, willing to change, become tech-savvy, and demonstrate their programs save lives and dollars. -
Wisdom Teachers: Hand hygiene: Larson took the challenge
Perhaps no American in medicine is more synonymous with hand hygiene than Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, FAAN, CIC, associate dean for research at the Columbia School of Nursing in New York City. Larson has authored scores of papers on the cardinal principle of infection prevention.