Editor's Note Deep surgical site infection (SSI) rates in orthopedic surgical procedures may be a better tool for interhospital comparisons than overall SSI rates, this study finds. Researchers in Finland analyzed infection surveillance data for 73,227 total hip arthroplasties and 56,860 total knee arthroplasties performed in 18 hospitals from 1999…

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The incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) is estimated to exceed 290,000 cases per year, and costs can range from $11,874 to $34,670 for inpatient hospital services. Studies have demonstrated a link between SSI rates and airborne bacterial counts in the OR. Some facilities have used trained observers to monitor…

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Editor's Note A new outbreak of infections outside the US have been tied to a duodenoscope Olympus modified last year to reduce the risk of transmitting bacteria between patients, the March 22 Los Angeles Times reports. The outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae in five patients occurred at the end of December…

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Editor's Note There were about 3.1 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) between 2010 and 2015, according to a newly released report from the Agency for healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Most of the decline was because of a: 42% reduction in adverse drug events 23% drop in pressure ulcers 15%…

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Editor's Note Lumbar spinal fusion performed within 3 months after lumbar epidural steroid injections was associated with a statistically significant increase in postoperative infections in this study. The association was not found when surgery was performed more than 3 months after steroid injections. Of 88,540 patients analyzed, infection rates were:…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced March 3 that they are collaborating on a project designed to adapt, enhance, and disseminate CDC guidelines related to infection prevention in ambulatory healthcare settings. The goal of the initiative, called “ADOPT (Adaptation and Dissemination Outpatient…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported March 2 that the proportion of US pregnancies with Zika-associated birth defects is approximately 20 times higher than it was before introduction of the virus into the US. Between January 15 and September 22, 2016, the US Zika Pregnancy…

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Editor's Note In women undergoing hysterectomies largely because of gynecologic malignancies, duration of surgery was a significant surgical site infection (SSI) risk, finds this study. Choice of preoperative antibiotic did not affect SSI risk. Of 1,531 hysterectomies analyzed, there were 52 SSIs, with 60% being deep incisional or organ/space infections.…

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Editor's Note Needlestick injury and occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens are significant hazards for surgeons and nurses, attitudes about risks are changing, and the true seroconversion risk is underestimated, this study finds. A total of 358 medical students and 247 surgery staff were surveyed, and results were compared with 2003…

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Each year, more than 700,000 patients in acute care hospitals fall prey to healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), and approximately 75,000 hospitalized patients die from them. Such statistics have gotten the attention of regulatory agencies that are determined to reduce these numbers. The Healthcare-Acquired Infections and Medical Technology Stakeholder Event held in…

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