Infection Control

How ChristianaCare cut sepsis deaths to half the national average

As hospitals nationwide grapple to comply with, and push back on a Biden administration rule that aims to crack down on sepsis deaths nationally or face federal funding losses, ChristianaCare in Newark, Del., claims its sepsis mortality rates are already…

Nurses call out CDC for voting on mask guidance before weighing public comment

The nation's largest union of registered nurses is criticizing a CDC committee for planning to vote on updated infection control guidance for healthcare settings without reviewing public comment.

New strategies to reduce catheter infections and hospital costs

Payal Patel, MD, an infectious disease physician at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health, is the lead researcher behind new recommendations for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections at acute care hospitals worldwide. Employing these essential practices, Dr. Patel asserts, can save…

New vaccine could boost immune system to fight HAIs: Study

A new type of vaccine could stimulate the innate immune system to prevent deaths from hospital-acquired infections caused by a variety of bacteria and fungi, according to a recent study.

Strep cases in hospitals jump as antibiotic supply runs low

Children's hospitals scattered around the U.S. are reporting a significant increase in strep throat cases amid a monthslong shortage of amoxicillin, NBC News reported Oct. 28.

Handwashing before gloving-up isn't necessary, study finds

Handwashing in clinical settings prior to putting on gloves may not actually be the best policy for infection prevention, a new study has found.

31% of ventilator patients at Maryland facilities were colonized with pathogens

Nearly one-third of patients in Maryland hospitals were colonized with Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida auris, two pathogens that are becoming growing infection-threats in hospital settings.

5 patients identified with C. auris at Kentucky hospital

An outbreak of colonized C. auris was confirmed at Lexington, Ky.-based Albert B. Chandler Hospital, NBC affiliate WLEX reported Oct. 24.

6 healthcare orgs push back on parts of new CMS sepsis rule

Six of the nation's leading healthcare associations have penned new recommendations on sepsis care to CMS on behalf of U.S. hospitals, which face the loss of federal funding if they fail to meet new benchmarks.

The technique that could cut central line infection rates by 47%

Having a trained nurse or nurse team present during central line procedures or catheter insertion reduces the chance of infection for patients by 47%, according to new research from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control.