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.
The Clean Bite: Think Twice Before Closing Your Lips Around That Little Suction Thing
May 27th 2025It’s a familiar request at the dentist—“close your lips around the suction.” But that small act could expose you to backflow contamination from previous patients. This first article in a brand new column by Sherrie Busby, EDDA, CDSO, CDIPC, explores the unseen risks of dental suction devices—and why patients should pause before obeying.
Beyond the Surface: Tackling the Sterilization Challenges of Flexible Endoscopes
May 26th 2025Flexible endoscopes revolutionized modern medicine—but their complex design poses persistent sterilization challenges. With mounting infection risks and emerging innovations, experts are rethinking how to clean and safeguard one of health care’s most indispensable tools.
Outbreak Detection, Patient Protection: The Legal Upside of Genomics in Infection Prevention
May 21st 2025A string of infections following routine knee surgeries in Tennessee has escalated into litigation, raising questions about how—and when—health care facilities should detect outbreaks. As genomic surveillance gains traction in infection prevention, some fear it could increase legal risk. In reality, it may offer hospitals their strongest legal defense.
