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The Hardest Question in Infection Control: Did You Perform Hand Hygiene?Everyone in health care knows the importance of hand hygiene, but adherence in health care is often below 50%, and having a conversation regarding hand hygiene adherence with a coworker can be uncomfortable. What can an organization do to increase hand hygiene adherence?
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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Hand Hygiene Monitoring SystemHand hygiene requirements for inpatient health care are numerous and varied. An electronic system to help monitor adherence with some indications benefits the hospital, although it may also introduce some drawbacks.
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Implementing Infection Control Protocols in Turbomachinery Manufacturing EnvironmentsExplore the challenges and innovations in infection control protocols for turbomachinery manufacturing. Discover the role of automation, IoT, and employee training in safeguarding health and productivity.
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The Role of Health Care Laundry in Infection PreventionEnvironmental sources of pathogen organisms can sometimes be difficult to narrow down in a health care facility. One possible source of transmission is the laundry used, and not maintaining strict cleanliness attention can put both patients and workers at risk.
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Infection Control and Prevention in the Outpatient Physical Office SettingUnlike hospitals, ambulatory settings have traditionally lacked adequate infrastructure and resources to support infection prevention and monitoring.
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Pharmacists Have Delivered During the COVID-19 PandemicGetting to know community pharmacists—in fact developing a professional rapport with those pharmacists—should be on an infection preventionist’s to-do list.
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Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance CoachingTraining EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
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The Art of Wise Leadership in Infection Control and Quality ManagementDiscover how wise leadership in infection control transforms challenges into opportunities, fosters teamwork, and safeguards patient safety through emotional intelligence, strategic vision, and inspiring action.
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A Spectroscopic Solution for Strain Typing and DiscriminationInfrared (IR) spectroscopy demonstrates promise for rapid strain typing of yeast and bacteria, which could help improve proactive infection control strategies in health care settings.
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Artificial Intelligence Offers Advancements and Challenges in the IPC SphereArtificial intelligence increases infection prevention and control measures in health care facilities and beyond.
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Diversity Can Be Best Ally for Infection PreventionistsPerspectives from a diversity of health care workers improve the care and outcomes of patients.
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Focus on 4 Foundations of Patient SafetyHealth care-associated infection-reducing initiatives are vital to keeping patients safe.
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Revolutionary Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea Treatment: A Possible Breakthrough with Recce 327With gonorrhea's rising antibiotic resistance, Recce 327 by Recce Pharmaceuticals emerges as a game-changer, showing 99% efficacy in preclinical trials and promising potential against antibiotic-resistant bacteria globally.
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Give Sterile Processing Team, Profession the Recognition They DeserveSterile Processing Week runs from October 9 through 15. Julie Williamson, of the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, explains why appreciation goes a long way with this vital group of hospital professionals.
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Burnout in Infection Prevention: The Silent Crisis We Must ConfrontBurnout among infection preventionists is a growing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. This personal reflection highlights the emotional toll, systemic challenges, and urgent need for support.
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Study: Single-Bed Rooms Preferred to Control Certain BacteriaNetherlands study details ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae strategy.
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Your Future Telehealth Program Starts NowCOVID-19 helped to speed up adoption of telehealth. When it comes to telehealth platforms, though, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach.
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Tocilizumab Granted FDA Approval for COVID-19 in Hospitalized AdultsFDA approved this intravenous tocilizumab (Actemra) for hospitalized adults with COVID-19.
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Addressing the Misconceptions About Using ISOs for Endoscope RepairThere are many misconceptions about using ISOs for endoscope repair. Perhaps the one with wide-ranging implications is the misconception that using an ISO for service will invalidate the device’s 510K, instructions for use (IFU), or automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) validation.
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The Clinical and Economic Case for Sterile, Disposable Instruments and ImplantsRecent news headlines reported two deaths and 179 exposures from contaminated surgical instruments used for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at a university medical center in California.1 Similar infections also occurred in Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
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The Clinical and Economic Case for Sterile, Disposable Instruments and ImplantsRecent news headlines reported two deaths and 179 exposures from contaminated surgical instruments used for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at a university medical center in California.1 Similar infections also occurred in Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
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Challenges and Lessons in Building a New Central Sterile Processing DepartmentWhen it comes to the culture of a hospital, nothing is as important as the employees who work for it and aim to provide excellent patient care. When it comes to a hospital's balance sheet, particularly the physical assets, nothing is as important as the actual hospital and other ancillary buildings.
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The Importance of Following Manufacturers’ IFUsHow do we clean an instrument has always been the question of the day in sterile processing departments all over the world; the answer is to come. The sad truth is, in some instances, the cleaning process was derived from someone in leadership making up a rule.
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UVC Disinfection: Proven by ScienceThe BETR-D Study: The first and only randomized clinical trial on UVC Disinfection
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Clinical Advantages of Disposable Microfiber MopsCan the type of microfiber product (disposable vs. re-laundered) make a difference?
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Clinical Advantages of Disposable Microfiber MopsCan the type of microfiber product (disposable vs. re-laundered) make a difference?
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IC in Care Series: Ambulatory CarePolicies relating to newly emerging and highly infectious diseases in outpatient healthcare settings within the context of infection prevention and control are highly variable, according to public health experts, leaving many gaps in patient protection from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). For example, only a minority of outpatient facilities are certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and few are licensed by states or maintain accreditation status. As a result, many of these facilities are opened and operated without being held to minimum safety standards for infection control or other aspects of patient care, potentially putting patients at risk. In an October 2015 document, Outpatient Settings Policy Options for Improving Infection Prevention, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined four key elements for states and their supporting HAI multidisciplinary advisory groups who are interested in more effective and proactive oversight of out-patient facilities: facility licensing/accreditation requirements; provider-level training, licensing and certification; reporting requirements; and establishment and effective application of investigation authorities.
