This issue covers some of the most significant news from September. Topics include COVID's impact on the ASC industry and HAIs, a Joint Commission advisory on preventing non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia, temperature and humidity requirements for sterile supplies, vaccination guidance for pregnant individuals, and federal funding for infection prevention and control.
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How COVID Changed the Ambulatory Surgery Center Infection Prevention Landscape — This column by ICCS Founder and President Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC, discusses how the pandemic has affected ASC infection prevention and control.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare-Associated Infections in 2020 — A CDC analysis comparing infection rates before and during pandemic revealed a significant increase in healthcare-associated infections in 2020. As Phenelle stated, "Concerns about COVID-19 negatively impacting HAI prevention strategies and decades of progress is now a reality. We must be reminded that it is incumbent on us as infection preventionists to stress the critical need for infection prevention practices to return to pre-pandemic times, despite the ongoing serious challenges COVID-19 has created. Ongoing education, monitoring, and feedback is critical to patient safety."
Quick Safety 61: Preventing Non-Ventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia — The Joint Commission issued an advisory on preventing non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements for Sterile Supplies — The Joint Commission published an FAQ concerning the hot topic of the storage of sterile supplies, and more specifically temperature and humidity requirements.
FDA Authorizes Booster Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Certain Populations — The FDA amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for use of a single booster dose, to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series in select populations.
COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19 — CDC released an advisory that encourages COVID-19 vaccination for those who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future.
Pfizer Submits Data to FDA on COVID Vaccine in Young Kids — Pfizer and BioNTech submitted initial data from a trial of their COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years to FDA and said an application for emergency use authorization of the vaccine in that age-group will likely follow in the coming weeks.
CDC Tells How to Coordinate Resident, Staff Access to COVID Vaccines — An online CDC tool explains how providers can direct residents and staff willing and able to travel to a local vaccination site to get vaccinated. It also explains how long-term care providers can expect the process to play out if they host an on-site vaccination clinic for the primary vaccine series or booster doses.
$2.1 Billion To Be Invested for Infection Prevention and Control Efforts — A package of money from the American Rescue Plan will go to about 6,000 hospitals, 15,400 nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, 7,900 dialysis clinics, and 4,700 ASCs to help improve infection prevention and control.
Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases — CDC released a toolkit for K-12 school administrators on how to respond to COVID-19 cases.
