ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter: July 2023

This issue covers some of the most significant news from July. Topics include acute-care recommendations, dirty devices, TB, mold and the flu vaccine.

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Implementing Strategies To Prevent Infections in Acute-Care Settings — Five medical organizations led by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America issued updated recommendations for infection prevention in acute-care settings.
 
Doctor Gets 25 Years in Federal Prison for Fraud, Using Dirty Surgical Devices — It remains critical that facilities follow manufacturers' instructions for use (IFUs) and/or nationally recognized guidelines and standards, including adhering to the forbiddance of reusing single-use items, regardless of the type and cost. ICCS frequently reminds clients of the necessity to understand the instructions and the symbols for single use, including the number 2 (two) circled with a strikethrough.
 
CMS Still Dropping the Ball on Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes: GAO — The Government Accountability Office (GAO) called out CMS for its inactivity concerning the development of new infection prevention and control standards for nursing homes.
 
More TB Transmitted via Bone Grafting — Contaminated bone graft materials were linked to more patients testing positive for tuberculosis.
 
Innovative Infection Prevention Program Reduces Surgical Site Infections, Results in Hospital Days Reduced and $500,000 Savings — New research revealed the potential benefits associated with an anesthesiologist-led infection prevention program, including reduced SSIs and lengths of stay.
 
Minimizing Health Risks: Controlling Mold in Health Care Settings — An Infection Control Today column took a close look at mold growth prevention.
 
Study Finds Prevention Bundle May Reduce Some Surgical-Site Infections — A quality improvement study found implementation of a surgical-site infection (SSI) prevention bundle with facility-level discretion on its components may be associated with reduction of certain SSIs.
 
For Those Taking Flu Shots, There Is Less Need for Antibiotics, Study Finds — A study showed that flu shots are linked to reduced use of antibiotics.
 
'Alarming' COVID-19 Treatment Rates in Nursing Homes Discovered — Research revealed that just 18% of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes were treated with antiviral medications, and the rate increased only slightly after oral treatments were approved
 
GAO's New COVID-19 Report Highlights Recommendations Critical to Preparing for Future Public Health Emergencies — GAO released a report sharing its most significant COVID-19 findings along with recommendations intended to help federal agencies better prepare for future public health emergencies.

ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter: June 2023

This issue covers some of the most significant news from June. Topics include MRSA, nursing homes, Candida auris, malaria, hand hygiene and flexible endoscopes.

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Updated Guidance Shows How Hospitals Should Protect Patients from Resistant Infections — Five medical organizations led by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) issued updated recommendations for preventing MRSA.
 
Decolonization Protocol Tied to Dramatically Reduced MRSA in Critically Ill Infants — Research showed a decolonization protocol normally used in older patients was associated with a sharp reduction in MRSA infections in critically ill infants.
 
APIC Calls for Dedicated Infection Prevention Staff at All Long-Term Care Facilities to Prevent Deaths of Seniors — APIC called on the federal government to require full-time infection control specialists at nursing homes.
 
US Hospital Data Show High Death Rate With Candida Auris Infections — An analysis of US hospitalizations linked to Candida auris found an estimated mortality rate of about one-third.
 
Better Tests Needed to Identify Candida auris Susceptibility — The American Society for Microbiology called for the development of antifungal susceptibility testing for Candida auris.
 
IDSA 2023 Guidance on the Treatment of Antimicrobial Resistant Gram-Negative Infections — IDSA released updated guidance on the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative infections.
 
Locally Acquired Malaria Cases Identified in the United States — CDC issued an alert following reports of locally acquired malaria infections in Florida and Texas.
 
Gentle Cleansers and Harsh Soaps Equally Effective at Killing Deadly Viruses, Study Finds — Research found that gentle cleansers are just as effective as harsh soaps at killing certain viral pathogens that are common targets in healthcare facility infection control.
 
Best Practices for Flexible Endoscopes Storage — An Infection Control Today column shared recommendations for storing endoscopes clean, safe and intact.
 
WHO Lays Out Research Priorities for Antimicrobial Resistance — The World Health Organization published its first global research agenda for combatting antimicrobial resistance.
 
CDC Advisors Recommend RSV Vaccine Approval. What It Means for Older Adults — A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults could soon be available after a CDC advisory committee voted to recommend them.

ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter: May 2023

This issue covers some of the most significant news from May. Topics include SSI prevention guidelines, assisted living guidance, eyedrops, outpatient dialysis and RSV.

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Strategies To Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Acute-Care Hospitals: 2022 Update — Five medical organizations led by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) issued updated recommendations for preventing SSIs. This SHEA news release summarizes the key recommendations.
 
New Guidance: Antibiotics Should be Halted Upon Closure of Incisions — Included in the updated SSI recommendations: discontinue antibiotics administered before and during surgery immediately after a patient's incision is closed.
 
Assisted Living Infection Prevention Guidance Updated by CDC With PHE Expiration — CDC issued updated infection prevention guidance for assisted living, group homes and other residential care settings (not including nursing homes).
 
Ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency & Other Policy Changes: What Clinicians Need to Know — IDSA published an infographic on policy changes related to the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency and certain federal legislation/funding.
 
Tainted Eye Drops Tied to 81 Cases of Highly Resistant Pseudomonas, 4 Deaths — CDC issued an update on the eye drops linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant bacteria responsible for multiple deaths and more than a dozen people experiencing vision loss.
 
Study Shows Hospital Policy Allowing Nurses to Initiate C. Difficile Testing Could Reduce Infection Spread and Associated Morbidity — The results of a study found that allowing bedside nurses to independently order testing for C. diff significantly decreased the amount of time to receive test results as compared to requiring physician approval.
 
5 Unsafe Injection Practices That Can Harm Dialysis Patients — An article from the American Medical Association discussed unsafe injection practices in outpatient dialysis.
 
Building a Culture of Safety in Health Care — The American Hospital Association issued a report highlighting key takeaways from a series of AHA-hosted listening sessions on the state of infection prevention and control.
 
Why Is RSV Different Now Than in Past Years? — An article from the Cleveland Clinic explored how the respiratory syncytial virus is changing.

ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter: April 2023

This issue covers some of the most significant news from April. Topics include MRSA, sharps injuries, C. diff, antimicrobial resistance and hand hygiene.

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CMS: Lapses in Infection Control, Vaccine Compliance to Garner 'Aggressive' Enforcement — Federal regulators have put in place new, stricter enforcement measures for nursing homes that struggle to meet infection control and vaccine immunization requirements for residents and staff.
 
Study Finds Excess Harm From Commonly Overprescribed Antibiotics for Patients, Resulting in Widespread Side Effects — A major study found that overprescribing and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics is not only leading to antibiotic resistance, but also causing significant patient harm.
 
Fewer MRSA Cases When Facilities Practice Surveillance and Contact Precautions — A study showed there was a reduction in bacterial infection in healthcare settings where infection prevention practices were continued during the pandemic.
 
When Safety Precautions Are Faithfully Followed, Sharps Injuries Are Lower, Study Shows — Hospital units that consistently follow standard safety precautions experience nearly 40% fewer needlesticks and other sharps injuries than other units, according to a study.
 
FDA Approves First Orally Administered Fecal Microbiota Product for the Prevention of Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile Infection — A new drug, Vowst, has been approved for the prevention of recurrence of C. diff infection (CDI) in individuals 18 years of age and older, following antibacterial treatment for recurrent CDI.
 
New Guidance Deems Antibiotic Stewardship Essential for Preventing C. Diff Infections — New guidance from five U.S. medical organizations stated that implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in acute care hospitals is essential for preventing CDI.
 
Review Suggests Fecal Transplant More Effective Than Antibiotics for Recurrent C. Diff — A clinical trial review found that stool transplantation is significantly more effective at resolving recurrent CDI than antibiotics.
 
US Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Antimicrobial Resistance — Experts in infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance went to Capitol Hill to discuss the rising threat of drug-resistant pathogens to the U.S. healthcare system and federal efforts to address the issue.
 
Our Covid Data Project Is Over, but the Need for Timely Data Is Not — This opinion essay, the authors of which helped lead the effort to build the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, emphasizes the importance of investing in our public health agencies and data-gathering capabilities.
 
Hand Hygiene, It Is More Than Washing Our Hands — A summary of hand hygiene guidelines and best practices published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter: March 2023

This issue covers some of the most significant news from March. Topics include Candida auris, eye drops recall, top patient safety concerns and C. diff.

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An Emerging Fungal Threat Spread at an Alarming Rate in Us Health Care Facilities, Study Says — CDC published data revealing the rapid rise in number of clinical cases of Candida auris.
 
Here’s What You Need To Know About the Flurry of Eye Drop Recalls — CBS News published a summary of the FDA's recent recalls on eye drops.
 
ECRI: Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns — ECRI published its annual "Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns" report. There are a few concerns on the list of particular interest to those involved in infection prevention and control, including delayed identification and treatment of sepsis, clinicians expected to work outside their scope of practice and competencies, and preventable harm due to omitted care or treatment.
 
Study: Antibiotics Don’t Reduce Risk of Death From Viral Respiratory Infections — A study revealed that prescribing antibiotics for hospital patients with viral respiratory infections appears to have no protective effect and that patients who received antibiotics during their hospitalization were more than twice as likely to die as those who did not.
 
Infant’s Death Linked To Contaminated Breast Pump; CDC Warns Parents About Rare Infection — CDC advised clinicians providing care for infants aged <2 months or those who were born prematurely or are immunosuppressed to explain the risks of C. sakazakii infection to caregivers, especially if the infant is fed with powdered formula or expressed milk.
 
COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: Experts Identified Actions Aimed at Improving Infection Prevention and Control — GAO issued a new report with recommendations to improve nursing home infection prevention and control.
 
New Treatment for Invasive Fungal Infection Candidiasis Approved by FDA — FDA approved rezafungin for injection, a treatment for patients with candidemia and invasive candidiasis. The new treatment is the first approved for the invasive fungal infection in over a decade.
 
Scientists Make Critical Progress Toward Preventing C. Diff Infections — A study performed in mice identified a compound that prevented C. diff infection caused by multiple strains of the bacterium, including those that cause serious illness. 
 
Hospital Survey Highlights Challenges for Infection Control, Antibiotic Stewardship Programs — A hospital survey revealed that infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship program interventions requiring staff, time and specialized training were implemented less frequently in 2021 than 2013 and 2018.