Ask the care expert … about infection prevention resources for families
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Feb 01, 2024
As a new infection preventionist at our skilled care facility, what information should I be giving the families when someone is admitted to make them more aware of their own responsibilities with infection...
How to do it … A stronger infection control approach
By
John Hall
Jan 31, 2024
In the wake of the biggest public health emergency in over a century, any edge these critical professionals can get is crucial for creating a stronger infection prevention program.
Easy to implement infection prevention and control strategies during the holidays in LTC facilities
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Dec 12, 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report in January of this year showing that more than 1,000 long-term care facilities in the United States had COVID-19 infection rates of 75% or...
Clinical briefs for Wed., Oct. 25
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 25, 2023
Project Firstline shares infection prevention tools from National Healthcare Quality Week … WHO eyes individualized approach to antimicrobial resistance … Tai Chi can ease symptoms from Parkinson’s...
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 — ...
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...
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.
Tips for training staff to prevent norovirus outbreaks
By
Joshua Schwartz
Aug 31, 2023
As the leading cause of gastroenteritis, norovirus — colloquially known as the stomach flu — is unpleasant for anyone. But in long-term care facilities, where vulnerable residents live in close quarters,...
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...
CMS still dropping the ball on infection prevention in nursing homes: GAO
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 12, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has yet to create certain infection prevention standards for nursing homes, a federal watchdog complained Tuesday in a new report.