Florida Stops Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
In early 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent a team of disease detectives to Florida to assist the state and a healthcare facility stop an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, deadly pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections.
CRE are a concern in long-term acute care hospitals, where patients who need to be on life-support for long periods of time receive care. They are resistant to almost all drugs, difficult to treat, and are associated with high death rates (up to 40 percent in some studies).  Read about Floridas success in stopping the spread of this public health threat by clicking HERE.Â
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If you want even more details about this outbreak, read the scientific paper in the October issue of the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
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For more information about how your facility can stop CRE, see CDCs CRE toolkit: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cre/index.html Â
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
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.
Spring Into Safety: How Seasonal Deep Cleaning Strengthens Hospital Infection Control
June 13th 2025Rooted in ancient rituals of renewal, spring-cleaning has evolved from cultural tradition to a vital infection prevention strategy in modern hospitals—one that blends seasonal deep cleaning with advanced disinfection to reduce pathogens, improve air quality, and protect patients.
