WHO Publishes Profile Profile for Better Zika Tests
June 27th 2016The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in February 2016, based on the suspected link between Zika virus infection, congenital malformations, and neurologic syndromes. Since then, several developers and laboratories have developed Zika tests, but none that responds to all the characteristics that would make a real difference to the epidemic.
10 Elements to Consider When Conducting an Infection Risk Assessment
June 24th 2016Almost everything we do in the healthcare industry is designed around one main focal point: patient safety. And infection prevention and control (IPC) is no exception. Industry leaders are developing IPC protocols to keep patient safety and outcomes at the forefront of all decision making. That is why it is so important to take a proactive approach to preventing infections from occurring by assessing the risks that may derail IPC efforts.
CMS Surveys: A Primer for the Infection Preventionist
June 24th 2016The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) maintains systems of oversight as part of its general mission to strengthen and modernize healthcare in the United States. Monitoring systems are a crucial component in CMS’s mission, factoring into all four of its strategic goals of better care and lower costs, prevention and population health, expanded healthcare coverage, and enterprise excellence.
Good Skin Health: The Hidden Factor in Hand Hygiene Compliance
June 24th 2016Even if they appear clean, your hands can be a vehicle for spreading potentially deadly foodborne illnesses and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). To reduce the transmission of pathogens, proper and regular hand care is key. Equally important is creating accountability around hand hygiene among employees. But are we focusing too much of the discussion on which pathogens are killed and in how many seconds? Are these facts convincing employees to increase handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer at critical moments? Unfortunately, the current approach isn’t as effective as it could be. And without compliance, these disease-causing microorganisms remain on hands. Uncovering factors that increase compliance can help protect employees, building visitors and an organization’s brand.
Researchers Devise Method of Faster Detection of Pathogens in the Lungs
June 24th 2016What used to take several weeks is now possible in two days: thanks to new molecular-based methods, mycobacterial pathogens that cause pulmonary infections or tuberculosis can now be detected much more quickly. Time-consuming bacteria cultures no longer need to be taken from the patient samples, meaning that a suitable therapy can be started quickly.
Scientists Discover Antibodies Effective Against Dengue and Zika Viruses
June 23rd 2016Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS, in collaboration with Imperial College London and the University of Vienna, Austria, have identified antibodies that can efficiently neutralize both the dengue virus and the Zika virus. The description of the binding site for these antibodies on the viral envelope, identical for both viruses, could lead to the development of a universal vaccine that offers simultaneous protection against dengue and Zika virus disease. These results were published in the journal Nature on June 23, 2016.
Mapping of Artemisinin Resistance Confirms It is Confined to Asia
June 23rd 2016The first global mapping of artemisinin resistance (the KARMA study) has definitively confirmed that resistance to the main drug currently used in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is for the moment confined to Southeast Asia and has not spread to sub-Saharan Africa. Led by researchers from both the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia, KARMA gathers a large consortium of institutions including 13 members of the Institut Pasteur International Network. The findings were published June 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.