News

Habitat destruction and species extinction may lead to an increase in diseases that infect humans and other species, according to a paper in the journal Nature co-authored by a University of Florida ecologist.

Patients fitted with long-term indwelling bladder catheters often face a serious complication: bacteria, most commonly Gram-negative Proteus mirabilis, can easily colonize and encrust the catheter. This eventually leads to the formation of a crystalline biofilm, consisting of mucopolysaccharide, that blocks the normal flow of urine from the bladder. Current methods for unblocking encrusted catheters by mechanical means, such as saline solution, replacing the catheter, or by using agents that try to dissolve the biofilm crystals, do not provide satisfactory results.

National Handwashing Awareness Week is Dec. 5-11, 2010.

Some people enjoy evaluating new technologies and sometimes it is part of their job description and they are overwhelmed by all the possibilities of products to review. Often the first person to evaluate a new technology or solution for an infection control-related problem is the infection preventionist (IP).

In the continual challenge faced by infection preventionists to drive down healthcare-acquired infection (HAI) rates, the impact of the environment as a reservoir of pathogens is becoming increasingly clear. It has been demonstrated that not only do pathogens shed by prior occupants of a room remain viable for prolonged periods, but that these present a significantly increased risk of infection to subsequent room occupants. While routine cleaning can reduce the microbiological burden in a patient room it does not always eliminate the presence of bacteria and hence risk of infection. Even where very stringent cleaning regimens are in place, it is a constant challenge to maintain high-quality cleaning in a room.