Latest NY HAI Report Shows Mandatory Disclosure Saves Lives, Committee Says
Betsy McCaughey,PhD, founder and chair of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID), states, "The 2009 New York State Department of Health Hospital Acquired Infections Report (released Sept. 1, 2010) shows that mandatory disclosure saves lives by making hospitals work harder to prevent infections. Statewide rates decreased for nearly every type of infection measured. None increased."
The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths urges New York state to include Clostridium difficile in future reports and pilot prevention programs. McCaughey notes, "This type of infection is raging through hospitals and may now be the most common hospital infection. The first line of defense is rigorous cleaning. C. diff spores contaminate many surfaces in hospitals. In at least 90 percent of C. diff cases, the patients give the infection to themselves by reaching out, touching contaminated surfaces around their bedside, then touching their lips or food and swallowing the germ. Placing a patient in an inadequately cleaned room previously occupied by a patient with C. diff can be a deadly decision, which is why effective cleaning with bleach is vitally important. How many patients think to ask, "who occupied this room before me?"
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
