Infection Control Today Magazine - healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), hospital infections, infection prevention and control, healthcare epidemiology, aseptic technique, environmental hygiene, hand hygiene, disinfection and sterilization, outbreak investigation, surveillance

FEATURES

Blood Exposures Survey

The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) recently commissioned a survey among its members to establish the first ...read more

Food Safety in Restaurants

Increased awareness and implementation of proper food safety in restaurants and delis may help prevent many of the foodborne illness outbreaks ...read more

Flu Facts

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on key facts about the 2013-2014 influenza season. ...read more

SSI Prevention

This report explores the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) within the context of evidence-based practices replacing "sacred cows" in the ...read more

Biocides and Sporicidal Disinfectants

This Pulse provides a quick summary of some of the ideas and perspectives coming out of the 2013 Spring Conference of the Society of Healthcare ...read more

Latest Headlines

Recycled Plastic Proves Effective in Killing Drug-Resistant Fungi

Researchers at Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and California’s IBM Research – Almaden (IBM) have discovered a new, potentially life-saving application for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is widely used to make plastic bottles. They ...More
Yesterday Posted in News
Better Preparedness Against Tamiflu-Resistant Influenza Viruses

Researchers at Umeå University and Uppsala Universityhave found that residues of the influenza drug Tamiflu in our environment can make the influenza virus in birds resistant. This can have serious consequences in the event of an influenza pandemic. With more than 14 ...More
Yesterday Posted in News
FDA Approves Sovaldi for Chronic Hepatitis C

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces that it has approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Sovaldi is the first drug that has demonstrated safety and efficacy to treat certain types of HCV infection without the need for ...More
Yesterday Posted in News
Knowledge About HPV Vaccine Effectiveness is Lacking, Study Asserts

Knowledge about the efficacy of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in preventing cervical cancer was lacking in the majority of survey respondents for whom the information would be relevant, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science ...More
Yesterday Posted in News
WHO Says Conflict in Syrian Arab Republic Hampers Polio Vaccination Efforts

The push to immunize all children against polio has been hampered by the ongoing crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO and UNICEF have appealed to all parties to cooperate, including through temporary pauses in hostilities ...More
Yesterday Posted in News
Needleless Connectors and the Improvement of Patient and Healthcare Professional Safety

When it comes to improving patient and healthcare safety, many factors are considered: time to treatment, antimicrobials and increased reporting standards to name a few. However, a small device – the needleless connector for intravenous systems – can have a big impact, ...More
Yesterday Posted in Articles, PPE & Standard Precautions
Preventing Sharps Injuries in a Rural Medical Center: A Success Story

The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act became Public Law 106-430 on November 6, 2000. In 2001, in response to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, OSHA revised the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) to contain language designed to prevent needlestick ...More
Yesterday Posted in Articles, PPE & Standard Precautions
Hand Hygiene Expert Offers Tips to Fight Germs During Holiday Travels

As you travel to visit friends and family this holiday season, don’t leave home without the hand sanitizer. During cold and flu season, that’s one of three things you can do to protect yourself from getting sick you’re on the go. Here’s what Elaine Larson, PhD, RN, FAAN, ...More
2 days ago Posted in News, Hand Hygiene
DebMed to Address Moving Beyond Direct HH Observation at IHI 25th Annual National Forum

As increasing patient safety, reducing costs, and lowering readmissions remain high priorities for healthcare systems across the U.S., improved methods for encouraging increased hand hygiene to help meet these goals are being discussed. On Dec. 10, during the Institute for ...More
2 days ago Posted in News, Hand Hygiene
Indiana Releases Its First-Ever HAI Report

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) recently released its first annual Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Report. The report was developed as part of a national effort to reduce HAIs and improve healthcare quality. Indiana’s report contains state-mandated ...More
4 days ago Posted in News