In the OR, precision and focus can mean the difference between life and death. However, surgical patient outcomes hinge on more than the competence of those working in these inherently intense environments. Every procedure also depends on the laborious, behind-the-scenes efforts of the people responsible for ensuring every surgical instrument…

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Imagine completely eliminating surgical site infections (SSIs) without significantly disrupting perioperative workflows. At Magic Valley Regional Medical Center (MVMC), a mid-sized community hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho, a nurse-led pilot project accomplished just that for breast and colorectal surgeries. As for other procedures, overall infection rates are down by nearly…

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Editor's Note Recognizing hospitals that excel at providing top-quality care while preventing serious safety events, Healthgrades’ 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Awards distinguish 442 hospitals in 40 different states. Announced March 11, the awards are based on inpatient MedPAR data from 2021 to 2023. Recognized hospitals must meet clinical quality thresholds,…

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Editor's Note A newly developed predictive model offers healthcare professionals a dynamic tool to assess the risk of nosocomial infections (NIs) in patients following colon cancer surgery, potentially improving early intervention strategies. Published February 27 in Frontiers in Oncology, the study introduces a nomogram—a statistical model that visualizes key risk…

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Editor's Note New infection control recommendations from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine) are purportedly the first comprehensive guidelines tailored specifically for regional anesthesia and interventional pain management procedures, such as cortisone injections and drug-delivery implants.   As detailed in the organization’s January 21…

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Editor's Note During the past few years, US hospitals have improved significantly in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), adhering to hand hygiene best practices, and preventing medical errors, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit focused on patient safety. Released November 15, the rankings…

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Editor's Note Research published in the American Journal of Infection Control finds that inadequate infection prevention and control (IP) staffing is associated with higher rates of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), Clostridioides difficile infections, and colon surgical site infections.  Medical Xpress…

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Asking who, what, why, when, where, and how—otherwise known as the “5 Ws and an H”— is a time-tested way for writers and researchers to ensure comprehensive coverage of any topic. Here, we apply this framework from the perspective of sterile processing department (SPD) professionals seeking to start a water…

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Editor's Note A 13-year study at US Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers found a decline in both hospital-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance for common pathogens, MedPage Today August 15 reports. From 2007 to 2019, the overall infection rate of nine pathogens decreased, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC)…

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Editor's Note Optimizing patient positioning can help reduce the risk of surgical site infections due to airborne contaminants in positive-pressure ORs, according to a study published August 12 in Nature: Scientific Reports. Maintaining higher pressure than adjacent spaces prevents entry of contaminants from environments external to the OR. For this…

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