News

Can aggressive isolation practices and contact precautions make a significant impact on infection rates?

Experts in the Cochrane Collaboration's Acute Respiratory Infections Group have reviewed all trial data in the medical literature, comparing vaccinated individuals with those who are unvaccinated.

An international team of researchers comparing recently-developed methods for diagnosing tuberculosis in children in resource-poor countries has concluded that the best test for high-risk children is the microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility (MODS) technique using two gastric aspirate specimens from each child tested.

Several cases of dengue fever, a potentially fatal viral disease transmitted by the bite of urban dwelling Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, have recently been reported in the continental United States.

The mechanism by which a herpes virus invades cells has remained a mystery to scientists, but now research from Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania reveals the unusual structure of a key member of the protein complex that allows a herpes virus to invade cells.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement adds oral care practice to its ventilator bundle.

Metal surfaces spur conversion of normal prion protein into disease-causing prions.

MedImmune announces that it has begun shipping FluMist® (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) to influenza vaccine distributors who service healthcare providers throughout the United States.

Electronic surveillance is becoming a critical tool in an infection preventionist's arsenal of tools with which to fight healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs). ICT presents the following case studies to highlight the benefits of using informatics in infection prevention and control efforts.

A review in JAMA of the new third edition of Practical Healthcare Epidemiology, edited by Ebbing Lautenbach, Keith F. Woeltje, and Preeti N. Malani (University of Chicago Press, 2010) notes that the field of healthcare epidemiology is undergoing a rapid evolution.

Sequella, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for treatment of infectious diseases, announces the publication of studies in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy on synergy between SQ109, its lead drug candidate for the treatment of TB, and TMC207, Tibotec lead TB drug candidate.

A clinical trial in Cambodia has found it possible to prolong the survival of untreated HIV-infected adults with very weak immune systems and newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) by starting anti-HIV therapy two weeks after beginning TB treatment, rather than waiting eight weeks, as has been standard.

New research published in the August 2010 issue of Anesthesiology found that patients receiving a total hip or knee replacement in Taiwan had a higher incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) when general anesthesia was administered for the operation than when the same procedures were performed under epidural/spinal anesthesia.

CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic today launched an informational campaign in its retail stores and clinics, as well as online, to start educating consumers about what they need to know to protect themselves and their families during this upcoming flu season.

Contracting an infection is the least desired outcome for a patient during or following a hospital stay. Through the use of a stringent program of training, education and practices, the University of Miami Hospital has achieved and maintained exceptionally low infection rates for 2009.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) will hold its "Building an Effective Business Case for Infection Prevention" conference Sept. 12-13, 2010 in Baltimore, Md.

Nurses and infection preventionists from the U.S. and South Africa will investigate strategies for reducing catheter-associated bloodstream infections in ICUs.

Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio, Texas and the University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center are linking patient infection status to automated patient flow and bed management software from TeleTracking Technologies, clearly and instantaneously communicating isolation information to all hospital staff.

In an ongoing effort to improve patient safety, the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UT Medical Center) of Knoxville, Tenn., will utilize the Premier healthcare alliances SafetyConnect patient safety program complete with the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON)'s online educational modules.

Westchester Medical Center infectious disease specialists report an increase in the potentially severe tick-borne disease Babesiosis in New York's Lower Hudson Valley over a 10-year period.

"Touchpoints" is a new campaign from Professional Disposables International, Inc. (PDI) that highlights the many ways germs can be transmitted in healthcare settings and is designed to educate caregivers and patients about preventing the spread of infections.

DuPont Sustainable Solutions has released the DVD-based training series, "Infection Control In Long-Term Care: Protect Your Residents, Protect Yourself," a timely training program that addresses the unique challenge of disease-prevention in long-term care facilities.

Deb SBS announces that its InstantFOAM® Alcohol Hand Sanitizer is now EcoLogo certified.

Understanding microbes' mechanisms of infection could help scientists develop new strategies for combating the most damaging diseases of the world's major food crops as well as several human diseases.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted during intravenous (IV) administration of anesthesia, according to a new study in the journal Gastroenterology.

After 75 years of absence, dengue fever has returned to certain parts of Florida, and dozens of cases have been reported this year.

The Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) will host a two-day workshop to bring together experts to discuss the scientific data addressing key issues in the science and mechanisms of bacterial resistance as well as the science of antibacterial drug development.