Navigating Our Way out of the Acute Pandemic Hand Hygiene Slump: A Back-to-Basics Approach
While hand hygiene is the most foundational practice, it is also one of the most difficult to improve. Educating a workforce on hand hygiene—which many frontline caregivers should be performing dozens, if not a hundred times per day—is a significant challenge.
International Infection Prevention Week Resources From PSQH
As International Infection Prevention Week wraps up, we want to thank infection preventionists for all the hard work they do every day. In Friday’s issue of Patient Safety & Quality Insider, we’re recapping the content we ran this week for IIPW.
Review Needlestick Training After ER Nurse Acquires Monkeypox
Remind clinical staff and others about sharps safety now that the CDC has confirmed an emergency department nurse contracted monkeypox in Florida from a needlestick. It is the first healthcare-acquired monkeypox case in the United States since a public health emergency was declared earlier this year.
PSQH Quick Poll 2022: Taking the Pulse of Infection Prevention Efforts
As part of PSQH’s celebration of International Infection Prevention Week, we decided to reach out to our readers with a few questions to find out the state of infection prevention efforts. The Quick Poll had a total of 209 respondents.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 64 – Spotlighting the Danger of Non-Ventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
On episode 64 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dian Baker, a professor at the School of Nursing, California State University, Sacramento, talks about hospital-acquired pneumonia. This episode is part of PSQH’s activities for International Infection Prevention Week.
Chief Nurse: How to Reduce Serious Safety Events
Ward, who has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare administration and has served in senior nursing roles in organizations across the country, spoke with HealthLeaders about what has worked in reducing serious safety events.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 63 – Getting Back to Basics With Hand Hygiene
On episode 63 of PSQH: The Podcast, Megan DiGiorgio, senior clinical manager at GOJO Industries, talks about getting back to basics with hand hygiene.
Discuss Any Revisions to Masking Policies With Your Staff, IC Experts
The CDC recently revised its guidance on COVID-19 universal masking, but consult with your staff and infection control experts before making changes to your organization policies. The guidance from CDC and CMS has been revised several times over the last few months, including the final days in September.
OSHA: Look for Final COVID Rule, Emerging Infectious Disease, Workplace Violence Standards
In addition to a final rule on COVID-19, the agency is working on standards covering emerging infectious diseases and workplace violence in healthcare, said OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor Doug Parker in an address at the National Safety Council’s 2022 NSC Congress & Expo in San Diego.
How to Reduce Hospital-Onset Clostridioides Difficile
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea and colitis, with nearly half a million infections in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in 11 patients over age 65 with a healthcare-associated C. diff infection die within one month, the CDC says.