Hawaii Hospital Investigates Possible Legionella Outbreak

Doctors believe the deceased patient and another who has been released acquired Legionella outside the hospital. But the state Department of Health stepped in after learning two other patients developed symptoms after already being hospitalized, making it possible they contracted Legionnaire’s in the hospital.

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APIC Survey Sheds Light on IP Workforce

The results of the APIC MegaSurvey were released during a session at last week’s 45th annual APIC Conference in Minneapolis. Conducted in 2015, the survey was completed by 4,078 active APIC members, or about 31% of the organization’s membership.

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Study: Critical Access Hospitals Face Infection Control Challenges

Public health officials reviewed infection prevention and control (IPC) practices at 36 Nebraska CAHs using the CDC’s IPC Assessment Tool. They found the largest gaps existed in the areas of injection safety, central line-associated bloodstream infection prevention, and catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention, but problems were discovered in all IPC areas.

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Study: Provider Preference Could Improve Use of Antibiotics

The study reports responses to a 20-question survey from 211 inpatient providers at Vanderbilt University Hospital in various specialties. The survey covered demographic questions, preferred feedback methods, barriers, and comparison metrics, and a hypothetical patient hospitalization scenario assigning provider responsibility for antibiotic use.

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AOHP Asks Healthcare Organizations to ‘Consider’ Mandatory Flu Shot Policies

AOHP, which calls itself “the only national professional organization with the exclusive mission of addressing the needs and concerns of occupational health professionals in healthcare settings,” recently released a position statement that recommends annual flu shots along with other mandatory vaccinations, including hepatitis B and MMR, for healthcare workers.

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Study: Seasonal Spikes in Antibiotic Misuse

The study authors say their findings suggest that “current initiatives to improve the use of antibiotics in outpatient settings may not be enough to change clinicians’ prescribing practices.” And they feel clinicians must be better equipped “with the tools and knowledge to know when antibiotics are needed.”

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