Year in Review: Infections
With 2010 coming to a close quickly, ICT presents the top news items and articles relating to infections, ranked in order of popularity based on Web clicks by ICT readers.
1. Study Finds Variation Regarding Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections
2. Rates of Healthcare-Associated MRSA Infections Decreasing
3. Doctors Overprescribe Antibiotics for Respiratory Infections
4. Choosing the Best Design for Intravenous Needleless Connectors to Prevent Bloodstream Infections
5. UNC Hospitals Reduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections by 85 Percent
6. Reminding Staff to Remove Catheters Reduces Infections by Half
7. Elderly Women at Higher Risk for Unnecessary Urinary Catheterization, Study Says
8. CDC Warns Against Bloodborne Infection Risk From Shared Use of Fingerstick Devices
9. Minimize Hospital Waiting Times to Avoid Airborne Transmission of Infection
10. Gloves Essential for Control and Prevention of C. difficile Infection
11. Universal Contact Precautions More Effective for Preventing MRSA Infection in the ICU
12. Treatment for S. aureus Skin Infection Works in Mouse Model
13. Open Surgery Reduces Infection Risk for Some Patients
14. Study Suggests That Being Too Clean Can Make People Sick
15. HAIs Greatly Increase the Length and Cost of Hospital Stays
16. Preventable Bloodstream Infections Still Plague Hospitals
17. AMA Weighs Infection Hazard Posed by Medical Attire
18. Risk of Post-Surgical Staph Infection May Depend on Procedure
19. Human Coughs Can be Pathway for Flu Transmission
20. MRSA Carriage Rates Vary Widely in Nursing Homes, Study Finds
Happy Hand Hygiene Day! Rethinking Glove Use for Safer, Cleaner, and More Ethical Health Care
May 5th 2025Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.
From the Derby to the Decontam Room: Leadership Lessons for Sterile Processing
April 27th 2025Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, is the SVP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Surgical Solutions in Overland, Kansas. This SPD leader reframes preparation, unpredictability, and teamwork by comparing surgical services to the Kentucky Derby to reenergize sterile processing professionals and inspire systemic change.
Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance Coaching
April 25th 2025Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
The Rise of Disposable Products in Health Care Cleaning and Linens
April 25th 2025Health care-associated infections are driving a shift toward disposable microfiber cloths, mop pads, and curtains—offering infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in one-time-use solutions.
