Infections

Significant morbidity and mortality is caused by healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), including surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and other healthcare-related infections and conditions caused by drug-resistant pathogens that jeopardize patient safety.

Heart Infection Involving ICD Associated with High Rate of Complications, Risk of Death

Patients with infective endocarditis involving implanted cardiac devices experience a high rate of complications such as valve infections, heart failure, and persistent bacteremia, and high in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates, particularly if there is valve involvement, ...More
April 25, 2012
Posted in News
Bartonella Infection Associated with Rheumatoid Illnesses in Humans

A bacterium historically associated with cat scratch fever and transmitted predominately by fleas may also play a role in human rheumatoid illnesses such as arthritis, according to new research from North Carolina State University. Bartonella is a bacterium that is ...More
April 23, 2012
Posted in News
Research Offers New Clues to Prevent Infection in Cardiac Devices

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the 'superbug' behind MRSA, can be a major problem for patients who have a medical implant, such as a replacement heart valve or pacemaker. Bacteria are able to form colonies – called biofilms – on the implanted device, which can lead ...More
April 10, 2012
Posted in News
Infection Linked to Blood Clots in Veins and Lungs

Older adults who get infections of any kind – such as urinary, skin, or respiratory tract infections – are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized for a dangerous blood clot in their deep veins or lungs, University of Michigan Health System research shows. The ...More
April 3, 2012
Posted in News
Mayo Clinic Reports Emerging Fungal Infection in the Southwest That Mimics Cancer

An emerging fungal infection of the gastrointestinal tract that mimics cancer and inflammatory bowel disease appears to be emerging in the Southwestern United States and other desert regions, according to Mayo Clinic researchers in Arizona investigating the disease. The ...More
March 29, 2012
Posted in News
To Drive Infections, a Hijacking Virus Mimics a Cell's Signaling System

New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human ...More
March 26, 2012
Posted in News
IDSA Issues Rhinosinusitis Guidelines to Help Doctors Distinguish Between Bacterial and Viral Cause

The vast majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses and should not be treated with antibiotics, suggest new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Nearly 1 in 7 people are diagnosed with a sinus infection each year. Although sinus ...More
March 21, 2012
Posted in News
Public Disclosure of Hospital Infection Rates Varies by State

Only 21 states require public reporting of hospital data on surgical site infections and, even when disclosure is mandated, the information is often not easily accessible to patients who could use it to make decisions about their medical care, according to new Johns Hopkins ...More
March 19, 2012
Posted in News, Policies and Practice
Treatment of Intestinal E. Coli Infection With Antibiotic Reduces Duration of Bacterial Carriage

In the E. coli outbreak in Germany in May 2011, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower frequency of long-term carriage of the bacteria and shorter duration of shedding of the bacteria in stool specimens, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA. ...More
March 13, 2012
Posted in News
CDC Highlights Steps to Prevent Spread of C. difficile Bacteria

Infections from Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), a bacteria that causes diarrhea and other health issues, is a patient safety concern in all types of medical facilities, not just hospitals as traditionally thought, according to a new Vital Signs report today from the ...More
March 6, 2012
Posted in News, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions