COVID-19

There are far too few trained staff assigned to infection control. IPs do not even have time to document and report infections let alone evaluate patients and conduct training.

One of the barriers that has been addressed in recent years was just how providers are to be paid for using telemedicine.

Many studies have shown that disinfection of surfaces is suboptimal and effective disinfection requires not only an effective product but also, effective practice. The surface must be completely and thoroughly wiped with an adequate number of antimicrobial wipes effective against the target pathogen and a contact time specified by the label instructions.

In a conversation with Infection Control Today, Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, a senior infection prevention epidemiologist in Phoenix, Arizona, discusses what it’s like for these frontline fighters.

SARS-CoV-2 stays active in or on aerosols for up to 3 hours, copper for up to 4 hours, cardboard for up to 24 hours, and plastic and stainless steel for up to 2 to 3 days.

What happened to 11 healthcare workers who, without proper PPE, treated patients confirmed to have COVID-19. Answer? Nothing. That is, they did not contract the disease.

A CNN commentator made the alarmist statement that we may get to the point where the national guard is escorting patients to a high school gym for placement on ventilators. This is of course a ridiculously misinformed statement since we do not have enough ventilators.

Drastic measures, such as quarantines, seem to have helped China slow the rate of outbreaks.

Since healthcare's response to COVID-19  will likely not end soon, it is important to consider ways to help make the work processes easier and enhance communication.

Infection preventionists may be involved in performing risk assessments of asymptomatic healthcare workers who have had exposure to patients with COVID-19.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, in Paramus, New Jersey, expanded its telehealth services to deal with COVID-19 and prominently displays information about telehealth on its website.

National Nurses United wants hospitals to establish protocols in which nurses are immediately notified when a patient who might have COVID-19 is admitted.

Since deaths are infrequent in healthy individuals under the age of 40, it may be an effective strategy to assign younger healthcare workers to COVID-19 care responsibilities.

A case of 12 one-ounce bottles was being sold by one lister for $3,892.84, which equals just over $324 per ounce.

As the threat from COVID-19 increases, so must the readiness of infection preventionists to respond. 

The whistleblower alleges that she was unfairly and improperly reassigned after voicing her concerns about the safety of HHS workers.

Regulatory and public health agencies in the US provide clear guidance on what products may be used in outbreaks of emerging pathogens.

About 20% of passengers in an airport have clean hands. If that increases to 30%, a potential infectious disease would have a worldwide impact that is about 24% smaller.

Seqirus announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Fluad Quadrivalent, touted as the first and only adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine, developed to help protect adults 65 years and older against seasonal influenza.

Christina Tan, MD, MPH, state epidemiologist and assistant commissioner with the New Jersey Department of Health, discusses the current coronavirus outbreak and how infection prevention efforts can help curb its spread.