Phenelle Segal to Present at South Carolina Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Meeting

ICCS Founder Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC, will be presenting at the South Carolina Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (SCASCA) March membership meeting.

The virtual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9, beginning at 2:00 pm ET.

Phenelle will be presenting on "COVID-19 and Outpatient Surgery Practices – Shaping the Future." The presentation will discuss the effect COVID-19 practices have had on outpatient surgery center practices and what the potential long-term outcome will be in the future. 

Phenelle's presentation is pending approval for AEU and IPCH credits. All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.

To learn more and register, click here.

Infection Hazards Appear on ECRI's Top Health Technology Hazards List

Multiple infection-related issues earn places and mentions in ECRI's annual list of top 10 health technology hazards, according to a news release.

Coming in at #4 is imported N95-style masks, which ECRI notes may fail to protect healthcare workers from infectious respiratory diseases. An executive brief for the "Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2021" report elaborates, stating, "ECRI testing through December 2020 found that, of the imported non-NIOSH-certified respirator alternatives tested, more than 60% failed to filter airborne particles as well as claimed."

At #6 is ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, with ECRI noting that rushed deployment of UV disinfection devices can reduce effectiveness and increase exposure risks. The executive brief states, "If not used properly, UV disinfection devices may not deliver a high enough dose to inactivate microorganisms, leaving individuals at risk of exposure to infectious pathogens."

ECRI also called attention to infection and infectious disease risks associated with two other hazards on the list. At #9 is remote operation of medical devices designed for bedside use, which ECRI notes can introduce insidious risks. One of the concerns with such operation: "Infection risks associated with increased connection points on infusion tubing or with compromised patient isolation (e.g., if cables are channeled through an ajar door)."

At #10 is 3D printing quality, with ECRI explaining that insufficient quality assurance of 3D-printed patient-specific medical devices may harm patients. Concerning infection, ECRI notes, "The use of an improperly created 3D-printed device could lead to procedure delays, surgical complications, infection, or patient injury."

The hazards taking the top three spots on the 2021 list are:

1. Emergency use authorization (EUA) device management: Complexity of managing medical devices with COVID-19 EUA

2. Drug name auto-display: Fatal medication errors can result when drug entry fields populate after only a few letters

3. Telehealth adoption: Rapid adoption of telehealth technologies can leave patients and data at risk

The 2020 top hazards list included sterile processing errors, central venous catheter risk in at-home hemodialysis, and surgical stapler misuse.

ICCS Infection Prevention & Infection Control Newsletter: January 2021

This issue covers some of the most significant news from January. Topics include nursing home surveys, President Biden's focus on infection prevention, infection control lapses, state legislation, hand sanitizers from Mexico, and a California outbreak.

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ICYMI: Check out our Special Edition: 2020 Year in Review newsletter.

Infection Preventionists Can Help the Non–Health Care Sector Thrive — This Infection Control Today article features insight from ICCS President Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC.

Nursing Homes: CMS Adds New Triggering Factors for Focused Infection Control Surveys — CMS expanded the criteria that will trigger a focused infection control survey at nursing homes.

Biden Wants More Infection Control Regulations, COVID Relief Funding for Long-Term Care — President Joe Biden's pandemic response plan calls for a significant focus on infection control and prevention, including new policies and guidance.

New Five-Star Ratings Ding Providers for Infection Control Lapses — More than 12,000 infection control-related citations have been given to nursing homes during the pandemic.

Sweeney-Vitale Bill Requiring Infection Prevention Plans for Nursing Homes Advances — New Jersey will develop an infection prevention and control plan for nursing homes if new legislation passes.

AG Lambasts Drastic Undercounting of COVID Nursing Home Deaths, Infection Control Compliance — Reports like this one out of New York and the previous report out of New Jersey lead us to believe that we're going to see significant state and federal activity around infection control compliance in 2021.

Cameras in Nursing Home Rooms, Additional Supplies of Protective Gear Recommended as Legislative Changes This Year — Connecticut is also on the growing list of states considering infection control reforms for long-term care.

Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities in the Context of COVID-19 Update — WHO issued interim infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities concerning COVID-19.

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 Lineage — CDC emphasized the importance of universal and increased compliance with mitigation strategies as the U.S. confronts more highly transmissible variants of the coronavirus.

FDA Takes Action to Place All Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers from Mexico on Import Alert — FDA placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on a countrywide import alert to help stop products that appear to be in violation from entering the U.S. until the agency is able to review the products' safety.

Kaiser Employee Dies After San Jose ER Outbreak Possibly Tied To Christmas Costume — Airborne transmission of the coronavirus, possibly linked to an inflatable Christmas costume, was the likely cause of a 44-person outbreak at Kaiser Permanente San Jose.

Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19 — IDSA released new recommendations on the use of baricitinib in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and an updated literature review on hydroxychloroquine for patients with COVID-19.

Virginia Adopts First Permanent Workplace Virus Rule in U.S. — Virginia was the first state to enact a temporary COVID-19 emergency workplace rule last year, sparking a trend of states taking similar action in the absence of such a move by OSHA. We expect other states to follow suit on Virginia's decision to enact a permanent rule.