Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 1 updated its Prevention Status Reports, which rank the biggest public health issues in the US. Among the 10 most important health problems are: healthcare-associated infections heart disease and stroke nutrition, physical activity, and obesity HIV. The Prevention Status…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission summarizes sentinel event-related data reported from accredited organizations quarterly and annually. The data (from 2004 through 3Q 2015) demonstrate the need for the Joint Commission and accredited healthcare organizations to continue to address these serious adverse events, the Joint Commission says. Surgery-related events in the…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating on an initiative to adapt, enhance, and disseminate CDC infection prevention guidance in a variety of free-standing and ambulatory healthcare settings. The Joint Commission will select and work with 12 outpatient-focused professional organizations and…

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Editor's Note Two different measurement systems are used to track performance in lowering the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality metric has shown a 28.2% decrease in CAUTIs since 2010, whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s metric has shown a…

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Editor's Note On September 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health advisory recommending that healthcare facilities arrange for a professional to assess their reprocessing procedures for maintaining, cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing reusable medical devices. The agencies recommend that facilities…

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Editor's Note Between 2000 and 2010, more than 5.2 million total knee replacements were performed in the US, and the rate at which adults had their knees replaced more than doubled (from 24 per 10,000 adults to 45 per 10,000), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 27 updated its guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used by healthcare personnel caring for suspected and confirmed Ebola patients. The guidance clarifies the use of fluid-resistant and impermeable gowns and coveralls and provides additional explanation on:…

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A new villain has emerged in the struggle against drug shortages that continue to plague health care: the single-use vial. When a vial of injectable medication contains more than a particular patient needs, if the vial is designated “single-use,” the remainder must be discarded, according to recommendations from the Centers…

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A new evidence-based guideline from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance on key issues such as endoscope repro-cessing, emerging pathogens, disinfection of surfaces, and susceptibility of antibiotic-resistant pathogens to disinfectants. The new Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, in the works for a number…

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