News

Virginia Tech scientists have provided new evidence that biofilms bacteria that adhere to surfaces and build protective coatings are at work in the survival of the human pathogen Salmonella.

New research from Harvard University helps to explain how waterborne bacteria can colonize rough surfaceseven those that have been designed to resist water.

The symbiotic relationship between patient safety and healthcare worker safety and the need for institutional championship of a safety of culture are the focus of a recent monograph released by the Joint Commission in late 2012. The document, "Improving Patient and Worker Safety: Opportunities for Synergy, Collaboration and Innovation," contends that high rates of injuries and illnesses among healthcare workers serve as a warning that the healthcare environment as a whole must be transformed in order to improve safety.

Educating and empowering patients to actively participate in their care helps reduce a patient's risk of hospital acquired infections. Creating an open dialogue, however, can be a challenge in today's healthcare. So how can hospitals improve their patient education programs and help patients become empowered and active in their treatment?

We share the success stories of two hospitals that are driving down device-related infection rates and upholding high levels of patient safety within their institutions.