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Check out DOH's updated Website
We can all do our part to protect residents of long-term facilities
The Strategic Partners Program in the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAIAR) section of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), is pleased to announce the release of a webpage containing links to two educational videos to help visitors to long-term care facilities learn about basic infection control measures for preventing COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The long-term care visitation video describes basic infection prevention practices, while the long-term care isolation precautions video covers the proper use of personal protective equipment when visiting someone who is in quarantine. The site also includes an informational flyer that contains a QR code, that can be scanned to watch the videos. In addition, you will find corresponding guidance documents. Please print and share these resources with visitors to provide them with knowledge and tools to keep everyone safe.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all many lessons about how to best protect vulnerable residents. One of those lessons is that everyone has a role in infection prevention, even visitors. Visiting someone in a long-term care facility, including nursing homes, and veterans’ homes, is so important for both the resident and the visitor. However, it also poses a risk of bringing illness into the building, and infecting residents and staff, and that is why DOH produced the two videos.
The videos and several of the guidance documents are in the process of being translated and will be added to the webpage as they become available. If you require additional translation, please contact Kathy Silverman, Health Services Consultant. Questions and comments about the videos and webpage may be directed to Bonita Campo, Special Projects Unit Supervisor.
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More than 70 percent of Physicians Reported in Survey That They Would Use Antibiotics to Treat Asymptomatic Bacteria in Urine Test, Going Against Recommended Guidelines
An estimated 70 percent of primary care physicians reported in a survey that they would still prescribe antibiotics to treat asymptomatic infections based solely on a positive urine specimen. This is despite long-held medical guidelines recommending against this practice, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open, which was led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers.
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Reframing Aging Initiative
The Reframing Aging Initiative is a long-term social change endeavor designed to improve the public’s understanding of what aging means and the many ways that older people contribute to our society. This greater understanding will counter ageism and guide our nation’s approach to ensuring supportive policies and programs for us all as we move through the life course.
Seeking Nursing Homes for Pilot Study of SOPS Workplace Safety Survey Items
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking nursing homes to participate in a pilot study of the Workplace Safety Supplemental Item Set for the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) Nursing Home Survey. The new supplemental item set focuses on the extent to which nursing homes’ organizational culture supports the safety of staff in the workplace.
If selected, participating nursing homes will receive:
- Free survey administration of the SOPS Nursing Home Survey with the Workplace Safety Supplemental Items to nursing home staff in June/July 2022.
- Feedback reports comparing their results to other pilot sites.
- The option to have findings included in the next SOPS Nursing Home Database.
If your nursing home(s) or nursing home chain would like to participate or learn more, please email WorkplaceSafety@westat.com or call 1-855-390-2448.
AJIC Podcast: Let’s Talk About the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare-Associated Infections
Lisa Sturm, MPH, CIC, FAPIC speaks about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-onset bloodstream infections (HOBSIs) in one large health system. What can we learn from this system’s experiences during the pandemic to help us fast-forward healthcare-associated infection reduction efforts? Listen to the podcast.
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National Updates
CDC Guidance Updates
CDC Investing in the Next Generation of Prevention and Response in U.S.
Denise Cardo, MD, Director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shares how CDC is building on current public health and healthcare infrastructure to stop the spread of antimicrobial-resistant infections and healthcare-associated infections, and ultimately prevent infections in the first place. Read the blog.
Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory- Monkeypox
CDC has issued this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to ask clinicians in the United States to be vigilant to the characteristic rash associated with monkeypox.
Information on infection prevention and control in healthcare settings is provided on the CDC website: Infection Control: Hospital | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC. CDC is currently reviewing this information to consider the need for updates. CDC will provide updates as they become available.
Compendium 2022 Update: Strategies for Healthcare-associated Infection Prevention
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The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the ability of healthcare systems to maintain their healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention efforts and led to substantial increases in some HAIs.
Recently, the SHEA/IDSA/APIC Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals, also known as the Compendium, published updated recommendations for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), as well as ventilator-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated events (VAEs), and non-ventilator healthcare-associated pneumonia (NV-HAP).
CDC highlights the Compendium and its first two guidance documents for preventing HAIs in this Safe Healthcare Blog entry.
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Get in touch with us
You are subscribed to Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI&AR) Newsletter for Washington State Department of Health. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
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