Federal report questions efficiency of required nursing hours in infection control
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jan 20, 2023
A new federal report calls into question whether Medicare’s required hours for registered and licensed practical nurses are adequate in helping protect nursing home residents from infections.
How long must U.S. seniors wait for nursing homes to clean up their act? Congress must step in
By
Devin Jopp
Sep 18, 2023
For years the government has sounded the alarm about infection control lapses in nursing homes, a deficiency underscored at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic when many residents of a Kirkland, WA...
Officials promote air filtration upgrades amid ‘tripledemic’
By
Amy Novotney
Jan 20, 2023
With the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging better air filtration in healthcare facilities amid the “tripledemic,” many companies are rushing products to market.
Floor swabs an early warning sign of COVID-19 outbreaks, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2023
A 14-month program in 10 long-term care facilities has found that floor swabs accurately detect a COVID-19 outbreak days before it is identified by staff members.
Decrease costs and boost morale by fostering a culture that prioritizes infection prevention and control
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Aug 07, 2023
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care facilities was usually relegated to the sidelines. If it was focused on at all, IPC often fell squarely on...
Gentle cleansers and harsh soaps equally effective at killing deadly viruses, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 13, 2023
Gentle cleansers are just as effective as harsh soaps at killing deadly viral pathogens — even after adding moisturizers, a new study has found.
Study points out healthcare workers’ errors adhering to COVID-19 prevention protocols
By
Kristen Fischer
Dec 07, 2023
Healthcare workers who had the highest risk for being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 also were most likely to be noncompliant with infection prevention measures, according to a new report.
Study: C. difficile transmission may hinge on individuals, not infection control tools
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 19, 2023
A person’s biology may play more of a role in how Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff, spreads more so than healthcare facility preventive measures, a new study finds. This means that transmission of...
Want to build a strong IPC program? You need to get creative.
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Apr 10, 2024
It’s truly remarkable to reflect on the four years that have passed since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Throughout this time, profound lessons have been learned about infection prevention and...
CMS adds enhanced barrier precautions to infection control guidance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 22, 2024
Nursing homes must begin to use enhanced barrier precautions to prevent broader transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms and to help protect patients with chronic wounds and indwelling devices, the...