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.
Innovative Wound Dressing Could Reduce $10B Cost of Surgical Site Infections
A study published July 4 in Nanomedicine found that electrospun nanofiber-based wound dressings loaded with a bioactive form of vitamin D spur production of an antimicrobial peptide that fights infection naturally.
Hospital Occupancy Impacts Infection Risk in Unexpected Ways
After analyzing data for a new study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, they found some surprising results. Patients were more at risk for C. diff infections when the hospital was moderately full.
Study: CMS Penalties for Hospital-Acquired Conditions Have Little Impact
The targeted billing codes were rarely used by hospitals, and the study found that when hospitals billed for HACs during a patient’s stay, it infrequently affected the diagnosis-related group assignment, impacting hospital reimbursement.
Cleanliness Sensors: Using Technology to Improve Hand Hygiene Compliance
Lutheran is among the healthcare organizations nationwide that in recent years decided to try hand hygiene monitoring technology in the hopes it could improve hand hygiene compliance—and in the process reduce the number of infections and avoid citations from accrediting organizations like The Joint Commission, which in January put stricter enforcement in place.
Urinary Catheters Pose More Risks Than Just CAUTIs
In-depth interviews and chart reviews from more than 2,000 patients found more than half of catheterized hospital patients experienced a complication of some kind. The issues ranged from pain, bloody urine and activity restrictions while the catheter was in, to problems with urination and sexual function after it was removed.
New Study Finds Use of PIV Maintenance Bundles Helps Prevent Bloodborne Infections
The study, “A Bundled Approach to Decrease the Rate of Primary Bloodstream Infections Related to Peripheral Intravenous Catheters,” was published in the March 2018 issue of The Journal of the Association for Vascular Access and found that implementing a PIV maintenance bundle using disinfecting caps and tips successfully decreased primary BSIs from 0.57 to 0.11 per 1,000 patient days.