Study highlights how VRE spreads — and how nursing homes can stop it
By
Kristen Fischer
Nov 15, 2023
Antibiotic exposure and dirty hands were factors linked to nursing home contamination with the multidrug-resistant bacteria vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, or VRE, a new study finds.
CMS creating infection control course for Final Rule compliance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 27, 2018
A new, multi-day course is being designed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to help nursing homes prepare for an infection preventionist requirement included in the revised Final Rules of participation.
Flu season may be ‘devastating,’ officials warn
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 01, 2020
“The real risk is that we’re going to have two circulating respiratory pathogens at the same time,” says CDC director Robert Redfield, M.D.
CDC: Portable air cleaners cut exposure to COVID-19 virus by 65 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 06, 2021
In a simulated meeting with infected and uninfected participants, properly placed portable air cleaners with HEPA air filters slashed virus transmission. Adding masks was even more effective — cutting...
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.
Wearers of medical masks and respirators have same infection rates in healthcare settings: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
The risk of receiving a positive COVID-19 test result was the same among healthcare workers who wore either type of mask, investigators say. In contrast, their non-mask-wearing colleagues had significantly...
U.S. labs predict COVID test delays, cite surge in demand
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 16, 2020
Long-term care facilities soon may face longer waits for PCR test results as diagnostic laboratories reach or exceed testing capacity, lab reps say. The warning comes as U.S. COVID cases spike upward.
Study: Leadership support yields better job satisfaction for infection prevention workers
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 15, 2023
Leadership support may be just what healthcare workers — and particularly infection preventionists — at long-term care communities need to avoid burnout.
More antibiotics didn’t prevent joint replacement infections, trial reveals
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 19, 2023
Doctors typically give the antibiotic cefazolin to people who have knee and hip replacements in order to prevent infection. Some physicians have debated if adding another antibiotic — vancomycin — ...
Providers with adequate equipment and training stay COVID-19 free: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 08, 2020
None of the 420 doctors and nurses participating in the study developed COVID-19-related symptoms or tested positive for antibodies after working in a high-risk environment.