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IPC PROs Helping Each Other: How to Engage Employees and Staff in the LTC SettingIn this installment of IPC Pros Helping Each Other, how do IPs keep those in their facilities to remember essential infection control practices?
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The Dx and Rx of Head LiceAs children get ready to return to school, pediatric health care providers may start seeing more of this condition in their offices. Here is what you should know.
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Defending Health Care Facilities: Winter Pest Control and Sanitation StrategiesCold weather can attract pests seeking warmth and shelter in health care facilities. Learn effective strategies, including sanitation and pest management, to protect patients this winter.
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ASRA Pain Medicine Releases Groundbreaking Infection Control Guidelines for Pain ManagementThe American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine) released comprehensive infection control guidelines for pain procedures, emphasizing prevention, early recognition, multidisciplinary collaboration, and judicious antibiotic use to enhance patient safety and healthcare outcomes.
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Implementation of CMS QSO-24-08-NH for Long-Term Care: An ExplanationCheck out Infection Control Today's PowerPoint that explains updates to the long-term care enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) requirements from the CMS.
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How Emerging Technologies Increase Hand Hygiene Adherence and Reduce InfectionsHealth care-associated infections (HAIs) affect over 680,000 patients annually in the U.S. Unlike manual methods, automated hand hygiene monitoring can significantly improve compliance and reduce HAIs.
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Training Is The Key to a Good Fit Test Program App Note (ITI-031) USThis paper outlines a primary reason to fit test an individual is to verify that he or she has been trained to wear a respirator and has learned how to don the facepiece correctly. Improper use can compromise the respirator’s protection.
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Redefining Competency: A Comprehensive Framework for Infection PreventionistsExplore APIC’s groundbreaking framework for defining and documenting infection preventionist competency. Christine Zirges, DNP, ACNS-BC, CIC, FAPIC, shares insights on advancing professional growth, improving patient safety, and navigating regulatory challenges.
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Consider COVID-19 Testing Before Holiday GatheringsNo agreed-upon definition exists that spells out exactly which symptoms trigger the need for a test. One expert says that if a get-together includes, for example, someone with Stage 4 cancer, it would be appropriate for all attendees to test beforehand.
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From Single to Multiuse: A Brief Review of N95 Respirator Decontamination StrategiesHere, we will review 3 common sterilization modalities currently in use for N95 respirator decontamination, how they work, and their strengths and limitations.
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Brushing Up on Sterile Processing in DentistryDental instruments may not seem as invasive as the instruments used in medical surgeries, but they still pose the same dangers.
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CDC Speaks About New Data From Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Fact SheetIn a follow-up to Infection Control Today's (ICT's) article on the CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Threats in the US 2021-2022 release, Michael Craig, MPP, director of CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination and Strategy Unit, answers ICT's questions.
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CLABSI Culprits in Critical Care: Looking Beyond the Expected Portal of EntryInfection preventionists focus on patient safety. Reducing CLABSIs requires meticulous care for all vascular access points, not just central lines, to prevent bloodstream infections.
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The Best Way to Start an IP Role Is With The Joint Commission: One IP's ExperienceThe first day as an infection preventionist can be nerve wracking, but what happens when The Joint Commission is there the same day?
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Environmental Measures Disrupt Transmission of HAIsTime, staff, and budget constraints make it difficult to expand HAI mitigation programs despite the obvious and urgent need to do so.
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Environmental Hygiene: Air Pressure and Ventilation: Negative vs Positive PressureLearn more about how effective air pressure regulation in health care facilities is crucial for controlling airborne pathogens like tuberculosis and COVID-19, ensuring a safer environment for all patients and staff.
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Empowering Patient Health: What Should Patients and Caregivers Know About Staying Healthy While in the HospitalOral care is vital in reducing hospital-acquired pneumonia risks. Health care workers' education, evidence-based protocols, and accessible supplies enhance patient outcomes and prevent complications in health care settings.
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Navigating Infection Prevention Challenges Amid 2024 Outbreaks: Strategies for SuccessAs infectious diseases resurge in 2024, this article explores how IPs can manage outbreaks, allocate resources, use technology for surveillance, and collaborate with senior leaders to ensure business continuity and patient safety in health care settings.
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Continuously Active Disinfectants Can Keep COVID at BayCharles P. Gerba, PhD: “Unfortunately, standard procedures for testing and registration by regulatory agencies of CADs (continuously active sanitizers or disinfectants) as disinfectants useful in preventing exposure to disease causing microorganism transmission has only taken place in recent years.”
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As HAIs Rise, New Methods of Counterattack SoughtEven the most rigorous infection prevention protocols come unraveled if compliance isn’t maintained. The challenge is that for busy health care professionals, remembering when and how to disinfect is just one of many competing tasks in an extremely busy day.
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Addressing Post-COVID Challenges: The Urgent Need for Enhanced Hospital Reporting MetricsExplore why CMS must expand COVID-19, influenza, and RSV reporting to include hospital-onset infections, health care worker cases, and ER trends, driving proactive prevention and patient safety.
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Keeping the Stethoscope, the Clinician’s Third Hand, CleanStethoscope diaphragms are contaminated with the same pathogens as the hands and they are capable of transmitting pathogens from patient to patient. The CDC should readdress its published guidelines.
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Infection Control in Pediatrics: Primary Preventions to Promote Child HealthInfection prevention in pediatrics is crucial to keep babies and children healthy. Some of the main tools are hand washing and vaccinations; however, there is more to do.
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Environmental Hygiene Industry Leaders Converge to Discuss BPR RegulationsEllie Wishart, BSc, Real World Evidence Manager at Ecolab discusses the role of industry partners in the Clean Hospitals initiative and taking part in the International Clean Hospitals Day Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 20, 2022.
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Most Decontamination Methods for N95s Seem to WorkThe shape and material composition of the N95 respirators varied widely from manufacturer to manufacturer, which can result in variations in the efficacy of a particular method from one product to the next.
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Barrier Against Infection: Importance and Challenges of Isolation Room Cleaning in HospitalsIsolation rooms are essential for infection control in health care, relying on specialized design, advanced cleaning protocols, and technology to prevent cross-contamination and safeguard patient safety.
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The Problem(s) With Candida auris: What IPs and EVS Personnel Should KnowEven during the COVID-19 pandemic, infection preventionists, nurses, environmental services personnel, and other health care workers cannot forget about C auris.
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Pandemic Places Importance of Preventing Environmental Infection at Center StageIPs can provide valuable input on construction projects, water safety, and ventilation.
