Diaries of infection preventionists offer peek into pandemic struggles
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 06, 2021
Real-time reports from the height of the pandemic offer a glimpse into the highs and lows infection preventionists faced as they tackled unprecedented challenges.
Untracked COVID: Nursing home workers have died at twice the rate of hospital workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2021
Nursing home care providers have the sad distinction of accounting for a large proportion of healthcare workers’ COVID deaths, according to new 2020 data that was not tracked by the U.S. government....
State orders nursing homes to offer antibody therapy as COVID-19 preventive during outbreaks
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 20, 2021
Long-term care advocates are applauding a new order by the governor of Maryland that requires nursing facilities to offer all residents therapeutic treatments such as monoclonal antibodies when a COVID-19...
Clinical briefs for Friday, April 9
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2021
Focus shifts to short-stay residents to prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks … U.S. COVID vaccination rates to plateau in April, survey results suggest … U.S. hits COVID shot target; 25% of adults now...
Odds of COVID-19 low in SNF post-acute care admissions: study
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 10, 2022
Post-acute patients transferred to skilled nursing facilities in 2020 had a relatively low risk of COVID-19 infection, researchers say.
New COVID-19 test kits promised as LTC operators contend with shortages, slow PCR results
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 03, 2022
Five million Celltion brand rapid tests will be shipped over a five-week period to facilities as they contend with testing supply shortages and slow lab turnaround times.
Stay on guard: Vaccinated residents remain susceptible to outbreaks, French nursing home studies reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 13, 2021
Vaccinations and infection control measures may not entirely protect nursing homes from COVID-19 outbreaks — especially when staff members are unvaccinated, according to two new studies from France.
Repeat booster jabs for residents? COVID-19 immunity in nursing homes wanes quickly, large study shows
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 21, 2022
Results from hundreds of facilities demonstrate not only the value of booster vaccinations, but that there may be an ongoing need for additional shots in the long-term care population.
It’s official: Omicron causes less severe COVID-19 illness than prior variants, CDC study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2022
The SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant is much less likely to cause severe illness and death than its predecessors, according to a new analysis of U.S. data from December 2020 through mid-January 2022.
CDC: Turn to Paxlovid to treat COVID-19, not steroids or antibiotics
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 26, 2022
The agency is urging clinicians to consider the now readily available, recommended therapies such as Paxlovid as first-line COVID-19 treatments.