Editor's Note Medication management in the perioperative period is often made without robust evidence, requiring clinicians to balance surgical safety with the risks of interrupting treatment, according to expert guidance presented at the annual Perioperative Medicine Summit. Paul Grant, MD, of the University of Michigan Medical School, noted most medications…

Read More

Editor's Note DermaRite Industries has voluntarily recalled multiple lots of healthcare products nationwide due to contamination with Burkholderia cepacia, a bacterium that poses serious infection risks to immunocompromised individuals, according to an August 10 article in Newsweek. The recall affects four product lines commonly used in healthcare settings for handwashing…

Read More

Editor's Note Hospitals achieved a substantial reduction in mortality risk for surgical inpatients between 2019 and 2024, even as patients grew sicker and stayed longer, according to a report released August 5 by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Vizient. In the first quarter of 2024, hospitalized surgical patients were…

Read More

Editor's Note AI-enabled sensors, smart surveillance systems, and predictive analytics are advancing perioperative workflows while helping prevent breaches that can lead to surgical site infections (SSIs). This is the primary takeaway of a July 15 Q&A with Herman DeBoard, PhD, CEO of Huvr Inc., in Infection Control Today. As detailed…

Read More

Editor's Note Zimmer Biomet is taking a strategic step to dominate the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) market by partnering with Getinge to distribute surgical and infection control products, broadening its offering beyond implants and robotics, MedTech Dive July 14 reports. The partnership would provide ASCs with a single-source solution for…

Read More

Editor's Note A study published July 9 in the American Journal of Infection Control found that clean paper towels are as effective—and in some cases more efficient—than sterile alternatives for surgical hand antisepsis. The results support their use as a cost-saving and safe alternative to sterile hand-drying products in surgical…

Read More

Editor's Note Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that detects surgical site infections (SSIs) from patient-submitted wound photos. According to the July 7 announcement, the model achieved 94% accuracy in detecting surgical incisions and an 81% area under the curve (AUC) in identifying infections. According to…

Read More

Editor's Note Reducing the number of OR personnel during preparation of sterile surgical goods significantly lowers airborne bacterial contamination, according to a randomized controlled trial published June 15 in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. The study measured contamination levels during sterile setup for 69 open-heart surgeries, comparing rooms with two…

Read More

Editor's Note New and revised sterilization and reprocessing standards are reshaping the landscape for sterile processing departments, placing greater emphasis on chemical modalities, device-specific protocols, and system-wide quality management, according to the Healthcare Purchasing News May 27 update on compliance and standards. Among the most significant developments is the overhaul…

Read More

Editor's Note A new digital resource is helping hospital leaders strengthen infection prevention efforts by focusing not just on bedside protocols, but on management strategies proven to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The “SMART Toolkit,” developed by researchers at The Ohio State University and launched in July 2022, offers a free,…

Read More