Citing community transmission and record high cases of COVID-19 as the omicron variant spreads, U.S. hospitals and health systems are urging patients and visitors to opt for medical-grade face masks instead of cloth versions.

Mayo Clinic is tightening visitor guidelines at its flagship campus in Rochester, Minn., effective Jan. 3. 

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is prohibiting certain types of face coverings and urging patients and visitors to ditch the cloth versions, citing the variability in cloth mask performance.

Infection with the highly transmissible omicron COVID-19 variant may lead to a fourfold increase in protection against the delta strain, according to early study findings from the Africa Health Research Institute published Dec. 28. 

Candida auris, a deadly, drug-resistant fungus, has been detected in three Salem (Ore.) Health patients, marking the state's first cases of the infection. 

New York City Health and Hospitals, which operates the city's 11 public hospitals, put visitation limitation policies in place Dec. 22 after visitors were linked to a COVID-19 outbreak at one facility, The New York Times reported.

In an effort to prevent further strain on the healthcare system, U.S. health officials may soon trim the 10-day isolation period recommended by the CDC for asymptomatic healthcare workers with COVID-19. 

The Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality has granted $2.5 million to Cleveland Clinic to lead a clinical trial that studies ways to cut the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics among patients with community-acquired pneumonia, the health system said Dec. 9. 

Eleven employees at Kaiser Permanente Oakland (Calif.) Medical Center tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a wedding Nov. 27 in Wisconsin, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens hasn't reported any central line-associated bloodstream infections among intensive care unit patients for three consecutive years, the New York City-based hospital said Dec. 7. 

The CDC has given $22 million to 28 organizations to fight antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases, according to a Dec. 7 news release.

The use of daily COVID-19 attestation forms in hospitals are effective at identifying healthcare workers who may have COVID-19 and help prevent the virus's spread, new findings from researchers at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital suggest. 

At least 18 patients at Chicago-based Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center have tested positive for COVID-19 after a sick staff member worked for several days, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Nov. 30. 

Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Little Rock (Ark.) faced a crisis. In 2019, the rate of hospital-acquired infections significantly exceeded the hospital’s own targets and national benchmarks. Dissatisfied with these results, Cornerstone focused on the causes of these HAIs, formed a team to improve the hospital’s results, developed a Model for Enhancement, Advancement and Improvement and implemented multiple changes — which produced significant results.

Advancements in ultrasound imaging have enabled transformational digital visualization of the patient anatomy, driving a growing list of procedures across healthcare. The quality care provided by healthcare staff, the ultrasound technology they use and frontline infection prevention (IP) practices are together linked to patient outcomes. Yet recent reports from The Joint Commission (TJC) and Federal agencies are a constant reminder to review proper ultrasound IP practices. Nanosonics strives to create solutions that make IP compliance easier for staff both at the frontline and system level. 

The Infectious Disease Society of America issued eight guidelines for healthcare workers using PPE when working with COVID-19 patients. 

Eight people died and 89 more residents and staff members were infected during a COVID-19 outbreak at Geer Village Senior Community in Canaan, Conn., NBC Connecticut reported Nov. 14.

Hospitals should use insights to revise "outdated" infection prevention and control policies, a review published in Annals of Internal Medicine Nov. 9 suggested. 

In recognition of Clostridioides Difficile Awareness Month, which runs through November, Becker's compiled the latest facts and figures to know about the common healthcare-associated infection. 

Sandusky, Ohio-based Firelands Regional Medical Center has reported a COVID-19 outbreak among 11 staff members, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's on Oct. 28.