During the first half of 2015, the Joint Commission’s top “not compliant” survey citations stemmed from Infection Control IC.02.02.01, which relates to reducing the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies. Surveyors cited critical access hospitals in 60% of the surveys, hospitals in 54%, and office-based surgery…

Read More

Editor's Note Readmission after emergency general surgery procedures is common and varies widely according to patient factors and diagnosis, this study finds. Of more than 177,000 patients analyzed, nearly 6% were readmitted within 30 days. The most common reasons were surgical site infections (16.9%), gastrointestinal complications (11.3%), and pulmonary complications…

Read More

Editor's Note Though recent studies using large databases have concluded that neuraxial compared with general anesthesia is associated with a decreased incidence of SSIs in total joint patients, this 11-year retrospective, controlled study found no difference. The use of peripheral nerve blocks also was not found to influence the incidence…

Read More

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…

Read More

Editor's Note Quality improvement initiatives combined with pulsed xenon ultraviolet room disinfection reduced total knee surgical site infections (SSIs) from four to zero and total hip SSIs from three to zero for a combined prevention of seven SSIs and a savings of $290,990 in 1 year at Trinity Medical Center,…

Read More

Editor's Note The American Nurses Association (ANA) is urging all RNs to get the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination and to advise their patients to get vaccinated also. Vaccination is the safest way to protect patients and the public from flu transmission while providing care, the ANA says. The ANA’s position…

Read More

Urinary tract infections are the most common type of healthcare-associated infection reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network. Of urinary tract infections acquired in the hospital, approximately 75% are associated with a urinary catheter. With the increased scrutiny of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)…

Read More

Three new studies on reducing urinary tract infections (UTIs) were reported at the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) conference in July. Researchers identified several process changes that, once implemented, brought down infection rates. Each study and its findings are described below.   The S.T.O.P.…

Read More

Editor's Note Diabetes is an independent risk factor for surgical site infections (SSIs) for multiple surgical procedures, this study finds. A meta-analysis of 94 studies found that diabetic patients having surgery were 50% more likely to develop SSIs compared to patients without diabetes. Diabetes has been a recognized risk factor…

Read More

Editor's Note Downing Labs, LLC (Farmers Branch, Texas) is recalling all lots of compounded and packaged sterile products because of concerns of sterility assurance. The products were distributed between April 20 and September 15, 2015.    Posted 10/21/2015] AUDIENCE: Consumer, Pharmacy ISSUE: Downing Labs, LLC is voluntarily recalling all lots…

Read More