Stop antigen testing in skilled nursing facilities, Nevada tells operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 09, 2020
Nursing facilities in Nevada have been ordered to stop using COVID-19 rapid antigen tests due to apparent diagnostic inaccuracies. Health officials say they will gather more data before issuing updated...
CDC: Prior infection plus vaccination tied to lower COVID-19 case rates
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 20, 2022
A new public health study suggests not only that vaccination protects against developing severe illness, but that surviving a bout with COVID-19 prevents reinfection, investigators say.
Ecumen to market infection control tracking tool developed by employee
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 29, 2021
Abxtracker software is designed specifically for use in the long-term care industry, and is aligned with CMS regulations. The technology can track COVID-19 and other viral, fungal or bacterial infections,...
Testing beats symptom screening to identify COVID-19 infections in senior living: study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 21, 2020
Aggressive infection control using universal testing in a Seattle senior living community appeared to halt transmission and prevent an outbreak.
Safety means ‘seeing the virus’: Atria recounts rollout of 18,000 tests early in pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 09, 2021
Finding a way to conduct COVID-19 testing among 31,000 residents and staff members across multiple states helped the senior living giant to “seal out” outbreaks and show that its communities were safe...
Intervention clears short-stay residents’ rooms of multi-drug resistant organisms
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2021
A trial in six Michigan nursing homes that included chlorhexidine bathing significantly reduced the prevalence of drug-resistant organisms in the residents’ rooms when compared with control nursing homes,...
Read my lips: virus may spread through speech
By
Alicia Lasek
May 14, 2020
Speaking in a confined environment can cause airborne virus transmission, likely helping to spread the coronavirus, according to new research.
Providers at risk of COVID-19 exposure offered online safety training: NIH
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 28, 2020
A virtual safety training program developed with private sector e-learning companies is now accessible on the agency’s website.
No BinaxNOW despite ‘red’ zone designation? Contact HHS, federal testing czar says
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 06, 2020
Eldercare facility operators who believe they are qualified but have not yet received shipments of BinaxNOW Ag Card tests for COVID-19 may email the agency at a dedicated address, Adm. Brett Giroir said...
AMDA’s new COVID vaccine PowerPoint can help answer resident, staff concerns
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 09, 2020
A toolkit created by industry clinicians aims to help long-term care operators address questions about getting vaccinated. A PowerPoint presentation is available to share with staff and residents.