PPE & Standard Precautions

Proper donning, wearing and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for barrier protection for healthcare workers and patients exposed to potential transmission of pathogenic organisms. Standard Precautions, including Transmission-Based Precautions and Contact Precautions, are used in the healthcare setting for patients with documented or suspected colonization or infection with highly transmissible or epidemiologically important pathogens.

North American Ambulance Alliance Selects Sempermed as Exclusive Glove Supplier

PALM HARBOR -- Fla. -- Sempermed has been selected to be the exclusive disposable glove supplier to members of the North American Ambulance Alliance (N3A). The products chosen by the members of N3A include powder-free latex and synthetic medical grade gloves. N3A's mission ...More
September 2, 2003
Posted in News, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions
Infection Control Today - 09/2003: Surgical Prep

Surgical Prep: The Right Product for the Right Function Minor changes bring major improvements in efficiency, safety and costs By Rosaline Parson, RN, BSN, CEN, CCRN As hospitals seek new ways to increase efficiency and safety while reducing costs, surgical services are ...More
September 1, 2003
Posted in Articles, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions
Health Officials Release Details About Respiratory Illness Outbreak in Long-term Care Facility in British Columbia

Health authorities in British Columbia, Canada have released information about an outbreak of acute respiratory illness in a residential care facility for the elderly in North Surrey. The outbreak has involved 97 residents and 46 staff members since July 3, 2003. A small ...More
August 18, 2003
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
Infection Control Today - 08/2003: Expert Says Recent Spate of Emerging Infectious Diseases Not Historically Unusual

Expert Says Recent Spate of Emerging Infectious Diseases Not Historically Unusual By Kelly M. Pyrek In the midst of the SARS outbreak this spring, infectious disease expert Edward J. Septimus, MD, FACP, shared his perspectives on the recent spate of emerging infectious ...More
August 1, 2003
Posted in Articles, PPE & Standard Precautions
Infection Control Today - 08/2003: SARS: Syringe Tip Caps Removed for Safety Reasons

Syringe Tip Caps Removed for Safety Reasons No Breach of Aseptic Technique By Michael Garvin, MHA Healthcare workers (HCWs) will see a minor change in the upcoming months. Hypodermic syringes without needles that have been packaged with a tip cap will no longer have the cap ...More
August 1, 2003
Posted in Articles, PPE & Standard Precautions
Biotechnology Company's Inactine Process Reported to Inactivate Both Strains of the SARS Virus

WATERTOWN, Mass. -- V.I. Technologies, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to developing products that improve the safety of the blood supply by pathogen reduction, announced today that its Inactine pathogen reduction system for red blood cells was successful in ...More
July 23, 2003
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
77 Percent of SARS Victims in Toronto Acquired Disease in a Hospital Environment, According to Report Cited at Recent APIC Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A recent study of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Toronto revealed that 77 percent of the 144 observed patients acquired SARS in a nosocomial environment, according to Barry Farr, MD, MSc, speaking at the recent 30th annual ...More
July 23, 2003
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
Current Infectious Diseases Threats Discussed

WASHINGTON -- Current emerging infectious disease threats are bringing a heightened sense of awareness of smallpox, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), monkeypox, norovirus, HIV and West Nile disease, health officials said July 16, 2003 at a press conference sponsored ...More
July 18, 2003
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
Update to SARS Case Definition Reduces U.S. Cases by Half

WASHINGTON, D.C. and ATLANTA -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dropped the number of SARS cases in the United States by half (49.5 percent) to a total of 211. The new tally, reported in today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), includes ...More
July 17, 2003
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
CDC Removes Travel Alert for Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada

WASHINGTON and ATLANTA -- As of July 10, 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed its travel alert for Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada to reflect the changing status of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) cases reported in these areas. The alert ...More
July 11, 2003
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions