Joint Commission Revises Scoring for IC Standard
Effective as of September 1, the revisions are meant to hone in on the process steps that pose the highest risk to patients.
Rise in Outpatient Care Leads to Rise in Community-Associated Infections
An October 2017 study in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, “Risk Factors for Community-Associated Clostridium difficile Infection in Adults: A Case-Control Study,” found that from 2011 to 2014, instances of community-associated C. diff infections in the U.S. grew from 35% of all C. diff infections to 41%.
Advocacy Group Urges HHS to Halt Sepsis Trial
Public Citizen claims the Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis (CLOVERS) trial is dangerous because patients are being given one of two treatments for sepsis, both of which are risky and neither of which is considered standard treatment.
HAIs Can Cause Emotional Pain, According to Study
Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland looked at 17 studies from five different countries that examined five different HAIs, with a focus on patient experiences of colonization and infection from bacteria that commonly cause HAIs.
Step Up Your Game: Staying Compliant With Joint Commission Hand Hygiene Requirements
This new focus on compliance will deliver increased patient safety, enhanced quality of care, and improved economic outcomes. And all of these fit right in with the drive for healthcare organizations to achieve high reliability.
Study Spotlights Common Infection Transmission Mistakes Made by Hospitals
The study looked at 325 patient rooms with precaution signage and found a variety of failures in infectious agent transmission precaution practices.
Flu Vaccine Programs For Providers: Making It Legal, Effective, and Mandatory
Many healthcare workers already understand that getting a flu shot every fall helps protect not only themselves, but also coworkers, friends and family, and of course patients. Others, however, will require more than a reminder of the 2017–2018 flu season, which was the worst in nearly a decade, to go get vaccinated for the flu.
New York’s Pediatric Sepsis Protocol Lessens Death Risk 40%
When clinical sepsis protocols mandated by New York State are followed within an hour of detection, the odds of death fall 40%, according to an analysis conducted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
AORN to Change Recommendations in Heated Bouffant Hat vs. Skull Cap Debate
Over the past couple of years, AORN, while still claiming all ears needed to be covered in the OR, has insisted it never explicitly declared that skull caps should be banned. Then a new study last fall hit bouffant-backers with an uppercut and pushed AORN to reconsider its stance on headwear.
CMS Revises Memo on Requirements to Reduce Risk of Legionella Infection
While there are no new expectations for hospitals or critical access hospitals, be aware it does add a specific statement that “facilities must have water management plans” as well as a new note that testing for waterborne pathogens is left “to the discretion of the provider,” according to the letter to CMS’ Quality, Safety and Oversight group, formerly the Survey & Certification group.