Thank you for visiting HAI Focus. This website is updated regularly to provide you with current news and information about healthcare-associated infections and infection prevention. I hope you find the information useful.
Sincerely, Julie Reagan, Founder of HAI Focus
The CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) annual report is now available online. The annual report contains a summary of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data submitted by hospitals participating in the NHSN in 2011. The data contained in the report will serve as the source data for the 2011 National and State Healthcare-associated Infections Standardized Infection Ratio Report.
Click here to view the entire NHSN Annual Report.
For more information about NHSN, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/.
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A new report issued by The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) indicates Pennsylvania’s hospitals are making significant process in reducing and eliminating infections, preventable readmissions, and patient harm.
The report, Pennsylvania Hospital Quality: Achieving More Together, provides an overview of the quality and patient safety initiatives of hospitals across the commonwealth.
Key findings related to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) noted in the HAP report include:
- The number of central line-associated bloodstream infections has declined by 44 percent between 2008 and 2010.
- The number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections has declined 36 percent between 2008 and 2011.
- Hospital employee influenza vaccination rates have improved, with hospitals achieving an overall vaccination rate of 72 percent during the 2011-2012 influenza season.
Click here to read a press release about the report issued by HAP.
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A new strain of norovirus has spread from Australia to France, New Zealand, and Japan according to Reuters. Known as Sydney 2012, the norovirus variant is now responsible for causing more gastrointestinal cases in England and Wales than any other norovirus strain.
Sydney 2012 does not carry worse symptoms than others but, like other norovirus strains, it can cause violent and projectile vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes fevers, headaches and stomach cramps.
…
Ian Goodfellow, a scientist who has studied norovirus for 10 years, describes it as “the Ferrari of the virus world” and “one of the most infectious viruses of man”.
Source: Reuters, January 9, 2013
It’s norovirus season! Check out our online continuing education norovirus courses offered through Pedagogy, Inc.: Preventing and Managing Norovirus in Healthcare Settings; Norovirus in Long-Term Care Facilities
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Holland Hospital (Holland, Michigan) has implemented a new policy requiring mandatory influenza vaccinations for its healthcare workers according to Fox 17.
“Approximately two-thirds of our workforce consistently receives a flu shot,” said Matthew Fletcher, D.O., Internal Medicine specialist and hospital Infection Control Medical Director. ” However, our goal is to have our entire staff receive the flu shot.”
All medical staff, volunteers, contract employees and students, with the exception of those who are medically ineligible, will be required to receive the vaccine.
The policy, which goes into effect in the fall of 2013, will apply to all Holland Hospital, Lakeshore Health Partners, and Holland Hospital service employees.
Source: Fox 17, January 11, 2012
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APIC has created a webpage on APIC.org to provide norovirus infection prevention information for consumers.
The webpage helps consumers learn about how they can protect themselves from norovirus this winter. The information page also includes useful CDC links for more information about norovirus.
It’s norovirus season! Check out our online continuing education norovirus courses offered through Pedagogy, Inc.: Preventing and Managing Norovirus in Healthcare Settings; Norovirus in Long-Term Care Facilities
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HAIs in the News: KRON4, January 5, 2013
The norovirus outbreak at The Redwoods residential facility in Mill Valley, California, is waning according to a report by KRON4.
The virus has sickened 63 staff and residents at the facility since December 24.
Two residents over 85 years old with “multiple medical conditions”were taken to Marin General Hospital where they died, supervising public health nurse Linda Ferguson said. Four other people were hospitalized, public health officials said.
According to the KRON4 report, public health nurse Linda Ferguson confirmed the virus is in its end stage.
Source: KRON4
It’s norovirus season! Check out our online continuing education norovirus courses offered through Pedagogy, Inc.: Preventing and Managing Norovirus in Healthcare Settings; Norovirus in Long-Term Care Facilities
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In the wake of the David M. Kwiatkowski case, another story of drug diversion is being reported from Rhode Island.
According to the Providence Journal, Health Director Michael Fine has suspended the license of Dr. Michael C. Coburn, a surgeon formerly with privileges at Kent Hospital.
Coburn’s license was suspended after admitting to drug abuse, according to the breaking news article.
After another doctor caught Coburn removing syringes from an operating room, Coburn “admitted to resuming drug abuse” and to injecting himself with propofol, a sedative used in anesthesia, and fentanyl, a painkiller, according to Fine’s summary suspension order. A search of his sleeping room found syringes, needles, blood-soaked gauze and vial caps. Kent placed Coburn on medical leave of absence on Nov. 15 and he has not seen patients since.
Although it was noted by the Journal article that the Health Director ruled “Coburn’s continuation in the practice of medicine would pose an immediate danger to the public,” it is unclear from current news reports if any patients were placed at risk by re-used syringes.
According to NECN.com, Coburn was placed on medical leave at Kent Hospital on November 15 and has not continued to see patients.
Dr. Coburn was named to the list of Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Reports in 2011.
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HAIs in the News: Marin Independent Journal, January 4, 2013
Two elderly patients died over the holidays following a norovirus outbreak at the Redwoods senior residential care facility in Mill Valley, California according to the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matthew Willis reported Friday that the two died at The Redwoods after falling ill, and that while norovirus may have contributed, it cannot be regarded as the cause of death.
The county said Friday that the outbreak at The Redwoods appears to be in “waning stages.”
Both patients were 86 or older, and both were “do not resuscitate” patients with “significant pre-existing conditions,” the health officer added.
Source: Marin Independent Journal
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HAIs in the News: Healio Infectious Disease News, January 2, 2013
Helio Infectious Disease reports on research presented in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology about NDM-1 Klebsiella pneumonia identified in patients of a Toronto hospital.
Two distinct clones of New Delhi Metallo-?-Lactamase-1-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified at a tertiary care center in Toronto, researchers reported in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Nine patients with NDM-1 K. pneumoniae were identified from January 2011 to March 2012. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that there were two different clones. For one clone, the index patient had recently received health care in India. The index patient for the second clone had no previous travel to India. Both clones were resistant to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
“The major take-home message is that the epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant organisms continues to evolve,” Andrew Simor, MD, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto, told Infectious Disease News. “With regards to carbapenem-resistance associated with NDM-1, this should no longer be considered merely related to medical tourism, as initially described. “We need to acknowledge that gram-negative bacteria carrying this resistance determinant may be acquired and transmitted in health care settings in North America and globally.”
Source: Healio Infectious Disease News
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HAIs in the News: My News 3, January 4, 2013
A defense attorney says he will file an appeal of a Nevada state judge’s decision to let a murder charge stand against former nurse anesthetist Ronald Lakeman according to My News 3.
Lakeman and former las Vegas physician and clinic owner Dipak Desai face criminal charges stemming from a 2007 hepatitis C outbreak.
Attorney Frederick Santacroce said Friday he’ll tell the Nevada Supreme Court that former nurse anesthetist Ronald Lakeman had nothing to do with outpatient procedures that prosecutors say led to the death last April of Rodolfo Meana in the Philippines.
Source: My News 3
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HAIs in the News: KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA, January 04, 2013
As reported by KGO-TV, norovirus is to blame for contributing to the deaths of 2 residents at The Redwoods residential care facility in Mill Valley, California. The virus is responsible for sickening 63 staff members and residents of the facility since December 24th.
Two residents over 85 years old with “multiple medical conditions” were taken to Marin General Hospital where they died, supervising public health nurse Linda Ferguson said. Four other people were hospitalized, public health officials said.
The highly contagious virus that results in dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea did not cause the deaths but can contribute to them, Ferguson said.
The greatest risk of death from the virus is to the very young and very old, Ferguson said.
There have been three different outbreaks of norovirus in the last two months, the largest one at The Redwoods, public health officials said.
Source: KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA
It’s norovirus season! Check out our online continuing education norovirus courses offered through Pedagogy, Inc.: Preventing and Managing Norovirus in Healthcare Settings; Norovirus in Long-Term Care Facilities
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HAIs in the News: Outpatient Surgery, January 2, 2013
Stephanie Wasek of Outpatient Surgery reports on an award of $750,000 to Robert Metzler, a man who contracted hepatitis C from a colonoscopy performed at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Metzler’s wife was also awarded $500,000.
“The evidence presented by the Metzlers lead me to find that the negligence of the Miami VAMC in not sanitizing the tubing of the endoscope used in Mr. Metzler’s colonoscopy probably caused Mr. Metzler to contract hepatitis C,” writes the judge. “I realize that the chances of acquiring hepatitis C under these circumstances is slight, but I find there is nothing to preclude Mr. Metzler from being one of those two persons in a trillion or billion who do get the virus.”
Mr. Metzler was among the 11,000 veterans who, according to an investigation conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, underwent colonoscopies in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia VA hospitals from 2004 through 2009 with equipment that might have been incorrectly cleaned.
Source: Outpatient Surgery
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APIC is urging infection control practitioners to make certification in infection control a new year’s resolution. To encourage certification, the organization is offering discounts on its Infection Prevention Competency Review online course and the Infection Prevention Competency Review Guide.
The discounts end on January 31.
Click here for more information.
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The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has issued an advisory warning of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks statewide. The agency reports that since November 2012, it has investigated 16 reports of gastroenteritis outbreaks in Maine. Norovirus Genotype II was identified as the cause of 8 of the outbreaks.
The advisory provides the following recommendations for healthcare and residential facilities:
Refer to Maine CDC’s norovirus guidance and checklist for long term care facilities. Transmission of norovirus infection to and from patients/residents and staff occurs readily, and cases of gastroenteritis should be reported to infection control professionals as soon as possible. Contact Precautions should be used when caring for diapered or incontinent persons during outbreaks in a facility, and when there is the possibility of splashes that might lead to contamination of clothing. Persons cleaning areas contaminated with vomitus or feces should wear surgical masks. Patients with suspected norovirus may be placed in private rooms or cohorted. Ill staff should not work until 48-72 hours after their symptoms resolve. Increase environmental disinfection to reduce the presence of the virus on surfaces. Health care facilities may consider limiting admissions and discharges, as well as elective procedures until outbreaks subside or until patients can be cohorted.
Source: Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory no. 2013PHADV001, January 3, 2013
It’s norovirus season! Check out our online continuing education norovirus courses offered through Pedagogy, Inc.: Preventing and Managing Norovirus in Healthcare Settings; Norovirus in Long-Term Care Facilities
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A new study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) showed central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) dropped by 52 percent when an alcohol-impregnated disinfection cap was used in place of standard scrubbing alcohol.
A team of researchers from NorthShore University HealthSystem conducted a study of adult patients in order to determine the efficacy of 70 percent alcohol-impregnated disinfection caps over the standard cleaning protocol, which involves scrubbing the catheter hub with an alcohol disinfectant wipe prior to accessing the lines. In a three-phased study, contamination rates among 799 patients sampled from three hospitals declined from a baseline of 12.7 percent using the standard cleaning protocol, to 5.5 percent when the disinfection cap was used, and increased back to 12 percent when the intervention was removed and standard protocol was reinstated. Infection rates at four hospitals declined from a baseline of 1.43 per 1,000 line days to 0.69 during the intervention, and returned to 1.31 per 1,000 line days when the intervention was suspended.
The researchers estimate that a system-wide implementation of the disinfecting caps method will prevent 21 CLABSIs and four deaths per year.
Source: APIC, Disinfection caps cut CLABSI cases in half. January 3, 2013.
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A study published in the January issue of BMC International Health and Human Rights provides insight into injection practices of developing countries.
Researchers performed a descriptive cross-sectional mixed type survey (qualitative and quantitative) to determine if selected government health facilities in Western Nepal satisfy the conditions for safe injections in terms of staff training, availability of sterile injectable equipment, and the proper disposal after use. They also sought to assess the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers with regard to injection safety.
The study concludes that although certain safe injection practices were recognized in the facilities, unsafe injection practices still persisted, placing patient and health workers at risk of associated hazards.
Source: Sudesh Gyawali, Devendra S Rathore, Bhuvan KC and Ravi P Shankar. Study of status of safe injection practice and knowledge regarding injection safety among primary health care workers in Baglung district, western Nepal. BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013, 13:3. Published January 3, 2013.
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The January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) provides coverage to personal protective equipment (PPE) and its role in infection prevention.
Major articles span topics including healthcare worker perceptions as a predictor of PPE uptake, determinants of nurse adherance to use of masks, respiratory hygiene in emergency departments, and development and validation of tools to assess the use of PPE in healthcare. Brief reports examine additional aspects of PPE and also delve into such topics as hand contamination with Aspergillus during demolition work and hepatitis C transmission due to contamination of multi-dose medication vials.
Source: APIC News Release
AJIC Table of Contents
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Professor Elaine Larson of Columbia University will be presenting a teleclass titled Infection Prevention and Social Change on January 31, 2013.
The presentation will summarize social changes relevant to infection prevention and control and will examine the role of leadership in prevention behaviors.
The teleclass is being offered through Webber Training.
Click here for more information about this teleclass and other HAI-related events.
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HAIs in the News: WCTV.tv, January 3, 2013
WCTV reports on the presence of norovirus in Southwest Georgia.
Peak season for flu is yet to arrive, but another nasty bug is also making its presence felt in Southwest Georgia – and there is no vaccine to prevent it and no drug to treat it.
“Norovirus causes about 20 million gastroenteritis cases each year in the United States,” said Southwest Health District Epidemiologist Jacqueline Jenkins. “This is the time of the year we often see it. For instance, you may have heard news reports about how around 400 people were sickened on two Caribbean cruises over the Christmas holidays.”
Jenkins said cases are cropping up in Southwest Health District as well.
Source: WCTV.tv
It’s norovirus season! Check out our online continuing education norovirus courses offered through Pedagogy, Inc.: Preventing and Managing Norovirus in Healthcare Settings; Norovirus in Long-Term Care Facilities
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HAIs in the News: Las Vegas Review-Journal, January 3, 2013
A district court judge refused to dismiss a murder indictment against nurse anesthetist Ronald Lakeman in the Las Vegas hepatitis C outbreak according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
After a brief hearing, District Judge Valerie Adair noted prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to the grand jury tying Lakeman to the alleged conspiracy leading to the death of Rodolfo Meana, a victim of the 2007 outbreak.
[Dipak] Desai, 63, and Lakeman, 65, are facing a second-degree murder charge in Meana’s death, along with a series of other charges, including criminal neglect of patients and insurance fraud, tied to the hepatitis infections of Meana and six other people in the outbreak.
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
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