Comagine Health Webinar: Long-Term Care Facility Ventilation and Airborne Infections Webinar
Have you ever wondered if a ventilation system can decrease the spread of airborne transmitted infections? What does proper ventilation in a building require? What is an HVAC system anyway? Is it expensive to install new ventilation systems in an old building? The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the issue of ventilation to control the spread of infection to the forefront once again. This education session is designed to address these questions and will discuss air systems, filtration, and reverse airflow. HVAC systems, HEPA filters, MERV filters, ionization, and simply opening doors and windows will be presented and discussed. Register to attend the webinar on June 7, 2022 at 11:00 AM.
Analysis of Burkholderia cepacia Outbreak From Contaminated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Water Heaters
This study examines a cluster of hospital-acquired Burkholderia cepacia complex infections that were found to be attributed to contaminated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) water heaters. These data indicated that water-based ECMO heaters may be a potential reservoir of dangerous biofilms and infection. Regarding the use of ECMO water heaters, the researchers advised hospitals to review their adherence to manufacturers’ reprocessing requirements, to consider performing routine surveillance cultures of device reservoirs, or to consider waterless strategies to manage vulnerable patients.
Real-time Genomic Surveillance Quickly Detects Hospital Outbreaks
The study findings presented at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Spring Conference continued to show the ability of real-time genomic surveillance to detect nosocomial outbreaks. In a previous 2-year study, University of Pittsburgh epidemiologist Alexander J. Sundermann, DrPH, MPH, and colleagues demonstrated that a combination of whole-genome sequencing surveillance and machine learning of the electronic health records — which is used to identify transmission routes — outperformed traditional infection prevention methods in identifying hospital outbreaks, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Clostridioides difficile Resource Provides Tools to Prevent and Manage Bacteria
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff ) is a bacteria that causes life-threatening diarrhea. It is often seen in nursing home residents and patients who are hospitalized for an extended period. Symptoms of a Clostridioides difficile infection -- or CDI -- include watery stools, fever, stomach pain and nausea. According to the CDC, there were about 223,900 cases of health care associated C. diff that resulted in 12,800 deaths in the United States in 2017.
Comagine Health has created a Quick Guide for Preventing and Managing Clostridioides difficile Infection tool with links to resources for environmental cleaning, infection prevention and control strategies, transmission precautions, dietary considerations, patient and family education and staff training. In addition, there are links to quality improvement resources such as an organization assessment tool to help your facility determine its readiness for preventing and managing C. diff. As antibiotic use is a major factor in preventing and managing C. diff., a link to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Antibiotic Stewardship Toolkit is also included.
Study suggests pandemic has made antimicrobial resistance worse in some hospital patients
Due to a mix of antibiotic use and conditions in hospitals, antimicrobial resistance has been trending worse for years but until now there hasn’t been a clear picture of what’s happening during the coronavirus pandemic. Researchers at Merck and Becton Dickinson recently presented findings from a database of antibiotic use and AMR events.
APIC publishes new guide for isolated infection preventionists.
This toolkit was developed by members of the 2021 Professional Development Committee of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) as a service to provide practical support for infection preventionists (IPs) working in rural or otherwise isolated settings. It is not uncommon, even for the most experienced IPs within larger urban acute care settings, to share that they felt isolated when starting in the IP role. Many simply landed into the IP role, yet quickly learned to love it and make it their life’s work. For IPs working in some rural areas, or within facilities where they may be a lone IP, it might be difficult to know how to get started, what the priorities should be, and who to connect with. An IP plays a very important safety and leadership role in every healthcare setting across the continuum of care. While initially it may seem daunting, being an IP is a great career, especially if you like to learn and embrace professional development. This toolkit provides a variety of practical resources, networks, strategies, and tips for IPs working in isolated contexts, in any healthcare setting, to develop and sustain effective infection prevention and control (IPC) programs and connect with other IPs who can help them launch, navigate, and grow their careers as IPs. Each section of this toolkit describes a situation you will most likely face as either a new IP or as one working in a rural setting. The situation is followed by practical advice on how to navigate and address that situation. Where applicable, recommended resources are also included.
|
