The University Health System increased flu vaccinations rates from 59 percent to 77 percent through interventions including vaccine kits, educational conferences and a dashboard to track vaccination rates. The effort led to the hospital surpassing national average for healthcare worker vaccination rates.
A recent study by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America found a dramatic increase in the use of carbapenems, powerful last-resort antibiotics, over five years. This trend is alarming as carbapenem-resistant bacteria become more common, weakening their effectiveness against emerging infections.
Researchers have found alarming rates of antibiotic use and the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia. Electronic faucets are also more likely to become contaminated with bacteria compared to traditional faucets.
A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that electronic faucets carry high levels of bacteria, including Legionella spp., compared to traditional manually operated faucets. The findings led to the decision to replace electronic faucets with manual ones in clinical areas.
Researchers detected high numbers of CRKP in long-term acute care hospitals, with 42% of cases occurring in these settings. The study highlights the need for heightened surveillance to monitor emerging pathogens like CRKP.
A study found that Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) surpassed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates in southeast community hospitals. CDI was also comparable to other healthcare-associated infections, such as bloodstream and device-related infections.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and Infectious Diseases Society of America have released new clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults. The guidelines update recommendations on diagnosis, treatment, and infection control measures to address changes in epidemiology and disease severity.
Infrared Thermal Detection Systems detected fever in patients with high accuracy, identifying patients with temperature above 100.0°F across all age ranges and genders.
The National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia has been recognized for its efforts to reduce healthcare-associated infections, including an 82% reduction in central line associated BSI rates and an 80% reduction in surgical site infection rates. The organization's multidisciplinary team approach has been key to its success.
Scientists found that emphasizing non-pathogen specific infection control practices, such as hand hygiene and chlorhexidine bathing, significantly reduced MRSA rates. The study observed a 91% reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections, a 62% reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and a 92% reduction...
A French national program to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) reported important successes with mandatory public reporting. The program led to a drop of 40% in MRSA cases and improved infection control measures across the country. Key initiatives included advancing research, improving communication with patients, and stan...
Studies found that healthcare personnel are more likely to be vaccinated if their close contact co-workers are vaccinated. A mandatory vaccination policy also significantly improved vaccination rates, with some hospitals increasing participation by over 90%. These strategies hold implications for hospital-based flu vaccination campaigns.
A new study found that a rigorous environmental cleaning intervention can reduce the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) in hospital intensive care units (ICUs). The multi-modal cleaning protocol reduced MRSA acquisition by 61%, while VRE acquisition decreased by...
A new study published at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America found that patients are often discharged from one hospital and then readmitted to another without being directly transferred. This extensive patient sharing has significant implications for handling potential outbreaks of infectious disease.
A pilot study demonstrates a novel, low-cost technology that automatically monitors hand hygiene dispenser use before and after patient room entry. The system, using Zigbee technology, accurately identified over 90% of subjects entering and exiting rooms for extended periods.