Editor's Note The US drug overdose mortality rate dropped 5.1% to 68,557 deaths last year, compared with 72,224 in 2017, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported on July 17. It’s the first time overdose mortality has declined since 1999. The CDC noted that the death counts are…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced June 14 in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that four hospital patients developed sepsis after receiving platelet transfusions contaminated with bacteria. The CDC found that the platelets contained Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The agency is still…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 9 released a National Health Interview Survey that found an estimated 9.4% of US residents (30.4 million people) lacked health insurance in 2018, which is not significantly different than in 2017, but it is 18.2 million fewer than…

Read More

Editor's Note In the May 10 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that hepatitis A infections were up 294% in 2016-2018, compared with 2013-2015. The increases are related to outbreaks among homeless people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs,…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 19 released its current progress report on healthcare-associated infections, which includes state and national level statistics for 2017. Among the findings for acute care hospitals: Clostridium difficile infections declined by 13%. Central line-associated bloodstream infections fell by 9%. Methicillin-resistant…

Read More

Editor's Note New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that so far, during the 2018-2019 season, between 6 and 7 million people have been sick with the flu. Up to half have sought medical care, and between 69,000 and 84,000 have been hospitalized. These estimates…

Read More

Editor's Note Cigarette smoking rates in the US have dropped to the lowest level ever recorded, according to the November 9 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The smoking rate for adult smokers fell from 15.5% in 2016 to 14% in 2017, a rate 67% lower than it was in 1965.…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and infection (CDC) on October 31 reported that the risk of hospital patients having healthcare-associated infections was 16% lower in 2015 than in 2011, largely because of declines in surgical site and urinary tract infections. The percentage of patients having surgical site and…

Read More

Editor's Note The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 18 announced the availability of free, downloadable Quick Observation Tools to help facilities prevent healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The Tools include 20 sets of quick assessment forms that…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 11 released as report showing progress by hospitals in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The report shows hospitals reduced: abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections (SSIs) by 13% central line-associated bloodstream infections by 11% Clostridium difficile infections by 8% catheter-associated…

Read More