Local Spotlight. The Virginia Beach Department of Health partnered with the VDH HAI team and the CDC to complete a vaccine effectiveness analysis in a local skilled nursing facility.  The Virginia Beach team worked diligently prior to CDC’s arrival and during data abstraction to ensure the project would run smoothly.  Many thanks to the facility for their partnership on this investigation and kudos to Virginia Beach for their fastidious work and continued excellence in public health!

COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting Requirements. On May 11, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided clarification on the Interim Final Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements. CMS also published a QSO memo to state survey agencies on how to operationalize this new requirement. The rule, which went into effect on May 21, 2021, specifies that CMS-certified long-term care facilities must develop and implement policies and procedures to: 

• Educate all residents and staff about COVID-19 vaccines 
• Offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents and staff
• Report vaccination data for residents and staff to the NHSN Weekly HCP and Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Module

CMS began reviewing compliance with the new vaccination reporting requirements starting Monday, June 14, 2021. Enforcement may result in penalties. Facilities should establish two designated NHSN reporting staff members with SAMS grid cards for NHSN Level 3 access reporting. As your dedicated Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), Health Quality Innovators (HQI) is available to support you and your facility with accessing NHSN and the required LTCF COVID-19 Module, including vaccine administration reporting. HQI can be reached at communications@hqin.org. 

NHSN Late-Onset Sepsis/Meningitis (LOS/MEN) Webinar. NHSN will offer a webinar on the soon to be released LOS/MEN module for NHSN reporting, August 4 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). This will be an opportunity to learn about the new electronic surveillance reporting option for Late Onset Sepsis and Meningitis targeting very low birth weight neonates during the first 120 days of life. Register in advance for this webinar HERE.

Upcoming CMS HAI Reporting Deadline. The deadline to enter 2021Q1 data into NHSN for the CMS Quality Reporting Programs for participating acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), and cancer hospitals is August 18, 2021. To ensure your data have been correctly entered into NHSN, please verify that: 1) your monthly reporting plans are complete, 2) you have entered appropriate summary and event data or checked the appropriate no events boxes, and 3) you have cleared all alerts from your NHSN facility homepage. Hospitals that have conferred rights to VDH will be receiving a quality assurance report in the second week of August, so please be sure to check your email and acknowledge receipt and review. Please remember to update the HAI/AR Program with any IP contact changes. For additional guidance on ensuring your data are accurately sent to CMS for Quality Reporting purposes, please visit the NHSN website and navigate to the appropriate section(s) for your facility type: http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/cms/index.html. 

EPA List P for C. auris. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now has a ‘List P’ for products effective against Candida auris.  Click here for more info.

Cleaning & Disinfection of Blood Glucose Monitors. Did you know that proper cleaning and disinfection of a blood glucose monitor (glucometer) is a very important step to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens to residents and patients? According to the FDA, CMS and CDC, blood glucose meters (BGMs) can become contaminated with blood and, if used for multiple residents, must be cleaned and disinfected after each use according to manufacturer’s instructions for multi-patient use.

Failure to properly clean (removal of organic soil) and disinfect (microbicidal process) blood glucose devices between uses has been implicated in multiple outbreaks of viral illnesses in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in other healthcare  settings. A BGM should be cleaned and disinfected after each use following the manufacturer’s instructions using an EPA registered disinfectant that is effective against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.  Note that 70% ethanol solutions are not effective against viral bloodborne pathogens, and the use of 10% bleach solutions may lead to physical degradation of the device. Healthcare personnel should consult with the manufacturer of the BGM to ensure the disinfectant is compatible with the meter/device.

Additionally, CDC recommends the use of single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices in settings where assisted blood glucose monitoring is performed. This practice prevents inadvertent reuse of fingerstick devices for more than one person. Reusable fingerstick devices must never be used for more than one resident or patient.

Earn CE with Project Firstline. Looking to earn additional continuing education (CE)?  Learn more about the “why” behind infection control and earn CE in the process with the Project Firstline course, Introduction to Infection Control and Virus Basics.  Learn how to safely use a multi-dose vial with Project Firstline’s course, Injection Safety or the important role that eye protection, gowns, and gloves play in infection control in PPE Basics.  Project Firstline will be releasing additional courses throughout the summer.

Prefer to Listen? The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) hosts, 5 Second Rule, a podcast where infection preventionists discuss facts, myths and general tips to stay safe.  New episodes are released every second Tuesday.