250,000 Deaths Per Year May Be Due To Iatrogenic Causes
JAMA Commentary Reports that Deaths Within the US Healthcare System may be Third Leading Cause of Death
(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS)A commentary by Dr. Barbara Starfield of Johns Hopkins in the July 26, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol 284) states that the health of the US population is not as good as in many other countries, and deaths within the healthcare system itself may account for the third leading cause of death in the US, only behind heart disease and cancer. The article states that 250,000 deaths per year are due to iatrogenic causes-unfavorable responses to medical or surgical treatments. Some examples of these causes include unnecessary medication and surgery, infections in hospitals, and negative effects of drugs. For more information, visit www.jama.com.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.
