Resurgent Infection Control News

Clean Hands Week

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Did you know that September 20-26 was Clean Hands Week? The Clean Hands Coalition established International Clean Hands Week in order to raise awareness not only about the importance of hand washing, but also to stress the importance of washing your hands correctly. With flu season underway, correct hand hygiene is extremely critical in order to prevent infection. Remember these tips when washing so as to ensure maximum results:

1. Wash for at least 20 seconds
2. Scrub in between fingers and under where you have jewelery (ie: bracelets and rings)
3. Lather well, then rinse. When you're done, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Happy hand washing!

CDC Giving $40 million to states to help with HAIs

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:52:00 +0000

The CDC has announced it's plans to distribute $40 million to state health departments to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the money will be distributed through cooperative agreements to 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. CDC estimates that every year, Americans contract 1.7 million infections while being treated in hospitals. These infections are associated with approximately 99,000 deaths annually. In addition to the significant toll on patients' lives, HAIs represent an estimated $30 billion in added healthcare costs.

The money is going to be used to maximize prevention efforts like:
* Creating or expanding state and local efforts to implement recommendations in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HAI Action Plan
* Increasing healthcare facilities' and health departments' use of CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, a surveillance system that allows HAI data to be tracked, analyzed and compared for prevention efforts
* Hiring and training public health staff to promote and lead HAI prevention initiatives
* Complementing HAI investments from other HHS agencies

To find out more, visit Infection Control Today.

CT Plans for More Strict HAI Reporting Laws

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Connecticut state leaders are advocating for more strict laws regarding the reporting of healthcare-associated infections. Sen. Jonathan A. Harris said he would consider tougher reporting laws so patients and their families can get better information on the performance of their local hospitals. In addition, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said he will urge lawmakers to remove barriers to full disclosure of incident rates across state hospitals. Since 2004, when the state adopted national guidelines for which "never events" need to be reported, Connecticut hospitals have had 1,056 adverse events -- an average of about 240 a year. In addition, since then there have been 107 deaths documented as resulting from adverse events. Jean Rexford, of the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety, said that patient care will improve only when the state does a better job of making medical mistakes more transparent.

Keep working hard Connecticut!

To read more, click here.

More People Die From Medical Errors Than Car Crashes

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:02:00 +0000

According to a new report from the Hearst Corporation called "Dead By Mistake", as many as 200,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical mistakes and hospital infections. That means that "more people die each month of preventable medical injuries than died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001," Hearst Newspapers Editor-at-Large Phil Bronstein, who oversaw the project, said. "The annual medical error death toll is higher than that for fatal car crashes."

The report found that the federal government and most states have made little or no progress in improving patient safety, as 20 states have no medical error reporting at all, five states have voluntary reporting systems and five are developing reporting systems. In terms of public disclosure, 45 states currently do not release hospital-specific information.

To read more about the report and it's findings, click here.

H1N1 Vaccine- Recommendations from the CDC

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:24:00 +0000

The CDC has published recommendations for the new vaccine for the H1N1 virus.

The vaccine will be made available for the following populations:
* pregnant women
* people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
* health care and emergency services personnel
* persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age
* people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

That's about 159 million people in the United States who qualify for the vaccine. Although the quanity of the vaccine may be limited, a shortage isn't expected.

To read more on the vaccine and to see if you qualify, visit Infection Control Today.

School Year Looms, CDC Prepares for Swine Flu

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:43:00 +0000

With the school year only about a month away, the CDC is monitoring the fall's flu season warily. Why? It appears that the virus this fall differs from regular (seasonal) flu and is hitting more children and young adults than the elderly. CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner has said that the CDC would be coming out with comprehensive guidance for schools in August. The strategy will include “trying to identify cases before they come into the school; good hand hygiene and isolating sick kids,” he said. The CDC is also going to tell parents “don’t send kids to school when they’re sick.” However, the CDC warns, regular flu shots probably won't protect kids from this strain of flu. Efforts to develop a vaccine targeting H1N1 are underway, and it’s possible that two injections (several weeks apart) will be required.

How do you protect your children from getting this fall's flu virus? First and foremost, the CDC recommends basic hygiene, such as hand washing and covering your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow when sneezing or coughing.

To read more, click here.

Honey Can Kill MRSA?

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Scientists have recently discovered that a specific type of honey, Manuka honey, is highly effective at killing the multi-resistant “superbug” MRSA. Most infections that are known as "superbugs" are antibiotic-resistant. That there is no apparent “intrinsic resistance” to the special properties of at least this one type of honey, means there might be a way to prevent the process of generating honey-resistant bacteria, buying time to develop treatments that could eradicate the threat of MRSA infection. Scientists in Australia are now working to test the honey and it's properties and eventually hope to develop a form of treatment for MRSA.

To read more click here!

NY State Health Dept. Tackles HAIs

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Congratulations to the New York State Health Department for issuing a report that discloses which hospitals are more or less likely to discharge patients with a HAI. This report is incredibly important because it clues the public in to a nasty reality: hospitals aren't always safe. Annually, HAIs sicken millions of Americans and kills some 99,000. But the good news is that virtually all HAIs are preventable!! But only if staff take precautions like washing hands, following proper hygiene, and changing gowns between patients. The report is also important because it will motivate hospitals to clean up their act.

Congrats to New York!

To read more, click here.

We're one of 50 Colorado companies: Fueling the economic fire!

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Click here to see us as one of 50 Colorado companies that are fueling the economic fire! These fast-growing businesses are building tomorrow's economy.

E.Coli Found in Nestle Cookie Dough

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:01:00 +0000

There has been a national outbreak of E. coli 0157, a bacterium that lives in the intestines of cattle, in Nestle's refrigerated cookie dough. Food safety experts and microbiologists are stumped as to how the strain could have made it into the product. The outbreak, which has so far sickened at least 65 people in 29 states, is the latest worry for consumers unnerved by a wave of food-borne illnesses, including botulism associated with canned chili and infections from salmonella linked to peanut products. The young and the eldery are more likely to develop complications if infected with the bacteria. As of June 22, no one has died from the infection.

Nestlé recalled all its refrigerated Toll House cookie dough products, or about 300,000 cases, on Friday, within 24 hours of being notified by the FDA that it suspected a problem, said Laurie MacDonald, a vice president at Nestlé USA.

This outbreak comes as the United States government begins to revamp and reform the Food Safety System. President Obama has identified food safety as a priority, and Congress is moving legislation that would place new requirements on food manufacturers while beefing up the Food and Drug Administration's inspection and enforcement powers. A key House committee passed legislation last week that could be voted on as early as this week, and a companion bill is pending in the Senate.

For more information, visit the Washington Post.

Germs Are Up and Infection Control is Down

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:53:00 +0000

A recent article reports that even though the WHO has raised the swine flu pandemic level to it's highest, hospitals and healthcare facilities are cutting costs in infection control due to the poor economy. In a recent survey, more than 40 percent of nearly 2,000 hospital infection workers reported being hit by budget cuts in the past 18 months, which include layoffs, reduced hours, hiring freezes and diminished ability to detect, track and manage infections that can cost extra money.

“If we’re cutting monitoring and surveillance and infection prevention staff, we’re cutting the muscle out of this aspect of patient safety,” said the executive director for the Washington, D.C.-based Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Cutting patient safety, however, isn't the way to save money. “If you prevent infections, you’re going to save dollars on the bottom line,” said Suzanne Cistulli, director of infection control at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, Calif., where she’s the sole full-time staff in her department.

To read more, visit MSNBC

Breaking News

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:28:00 +0000

The WHO has declared the H1N1 virus a global pandemic Thursday — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years — as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases. The WHO has also raised the pandemic level to it's highest: level 6.

For more information, click here!

Remember to Wash Your Hands Before Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:56:00 +0000

A recent article has pointed out how easy it is to step out for lunch and eat with your fingers: chips and salsa as an appetizer, chicken fingers, french fries, all are eaten using your fingers. But, likely-as-not, people won't be washing their hands before they eat their finger-food and the germs from the hands will immediately be transferred to the food, and the consumed. Most of us work indoors, at an office for example, where our desktops, keyboards, phones, pens, calculators, etc are among the worst places for germs. According to a 2008 survey, 35 percent of Americans don't always wash their hands before lunch. Not only should restaurants begin to encourage hand-washing but consumers should take it upon themselves to visit a hand hygiene station before eating their food.

To read more, visit the Washington Post.

Washing Kids Hands Keeps Everyone Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:41:00 +0000

A new study shows that keeping children's hands clean is one of the most valuable infection prevention measures one can take. The study found that those who washed their hands several times a day with soap had 50% fewer episodes of respiratory illness than children with standard hygiene practices. Another study found those who used alcohol hand gels plus hand washing had a 43% lower absenteeism rate. That is, keeping kids hands clean can help keep adults safe from infection. If your child comes down with the flu, it's likely they could pass it to you. Parents and teachers, remember to teach your children how to PROPERLY wash their hands:

-Wet hands with warm water and apply soap.
-Rub hands together, and make sure to get in between fingers and up over the wrist.
-The time it takes to wash your hands adequately is about 20 seconds. Think singing "happy birthday" twice.
-Rince hands under warm water.

To read more, click here.

Flu Scare Dwindles, Don't Let Hand Hygiene Drop Too

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:20:00 +0000

A few weeks ago the H1N1 virus scare was at it's height. Everyone, including the president, was urging fellow citizens to wash their hands to protect themselves. In fact a phone survey in early May found that 67% of adults said they or others in their homes were washing their hands more often, reported the Harvard School of Public Health. CDC officials said this increase would help in other areas than just the H1N1 virus. Now that the scare has seemed to die down a bit, will people continue their rigorous handwashing?

"'m sure there are more people washing hands, but I don't think it's going to last," says B. Susie Craig, a food safety specialist and hand-washing expert. Changing behavoir is hard; if it wasn't, there wouldn't be such a problem with infection control. Experts say that it takes around a month to develop a new habit, so if you started a rigorous handwashing campaign last month in response to the H1N1 scare, keep it up and you'll be safer in the end.

To read more, visit USA Today.

The Flu: How to Control It?

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:21:00 +0000

What do we need to do to stop the spread of this years massive outbreak of the flu? The answer, from most, is "I don't know'. When health professionals are asked what to do to keep the flu out of schools, most don't have an answer. All they can say is, wash your hands. Amy Nichols, the chief of infection control for the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, advocates for making students disinfect their hands before entering each class, the gym or the cafeteria.

H1N1, the virus that has, as of today, resulted in 79 deaths world-wide has been issued an Alert Level 5 by the WHO. Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO's director-general warned that the virus’s initial mildness had “handed the world a grace period" and that the level would probably stay where it is. “I strongly urge you to look closely at anything and everything we can do, collectively, to protect developing countries from once again bearing the brunt of a global contagion,” Dr. Chan said. So what does this mean of you? It doesn't mean wearing masks around, simply washing your hands after you use the restroom, after you come in contact with anyone who's sick, or after you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose.

To read more, visit the NY Times.

Resurgent Health and Medical Recognized among Colorado Companies to Watch

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:36:00 +0000

GOLDEN, Colo., May 8, 2009--Resurgent Health and Medical, leader in automated hand hygiene technology, today announced it has been recognized by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade as a Colorado Company to Watch. Resurgent will be honored on June 25, 2009 at the Denver Center for Performing Arts Seawell Ballroom.

In its inaugural year, Colorado Companies to Watch drew in over 250 nominations and honored 50 exceptional companies statewide. The awards program, developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, showcases trend-setting leaders in diverse fields that contribute to Colorado’s economy. Companies considered for this prestigious award must be headquartered in Colorado, privately-held with revenues ranging from $750,000 to $50 million, and employ 6 to 99 full-time employees.

“It is a great honor to be acknowledged as a Colorado Company to Watch” says Jim Glenn, CEO of Resurgent Health and Medical. “We pride ourselves in our commitment to our customers through innovation and dedicated service. Contributing to Colorado’s economy through our values and continued growth not only helps us share our message, but also spreads the awareness of the state’s growing industries.”

Resurgent Health and Medical designs and manufactures automated hand and boot hygiene technology for the food and healthcare industries out of its Golden, Colo. plant. Vice President of Sales and Marketing Michele Colbert added, "We're committed to helping achieve zero tolerance in the prevention of food borne illness and healthcare associated infections, and the exposure we receive through Colorado Companies to Watch is invaluable."

About Resurgent Health and Medical
Resurgent Health and Medical delivers state of the art employee hygiene technologies to companies that are serious about infection prevention and the elimination of dangerous pathogens in the workplace. Our patented CleanTech infection prevention technology brings science and precision to the process of removing dangerous microbes from hands. For almost 20 years, its CleanTech® brand systems have been used worldwide in healthcare, food processing, food service, clean room manufacturing and hospitality. CleanTech uses up to 75% less water than manual handwashing, discharges 75% less wastewater, and reduces waste in soap utilization. Equipped with the CleanTracker™ RFID Compliance Monitoring Software, CleanTech systems easily track and record hand washing compliance. For more information, visit http://www.resurgenthealth.com or call (800) 932-7707.

About Colorado Companies to Watch
Colorado Companies to Watch is presented by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade in association with Adams County Economic Development, Arvada Economic Development, Case Dynamics, Colorado BioScience Association, ColoradoBiz Magazine, Colorado Lending Source, Colorado Rural Development Council, Economic Development Council of Colorado, Edward Lowe Foundation, Jefferson Business Resource Center, Jefferson Economic Council, Littleton Business and Industry Office, TiE Rockies, Region 9 Economic Development of Southwest Colorado and the Westminster Economic Development Office.

Press contact: Amy Garcia, Director of Marketing, Resurgent Health & Medical, (800) 932-7707, agarcia@meritech.com

Swine Flu: Your Questions Answered

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:27:00 +0000

1. Is the swine flu outbreak in the United States winding down?
Not yet, say health officials. They still expect to see more cases, however with the warm weather on it's way and with the flu dying down in Mexico, it is reasonable to suspect that it will wind down in the US within the next few weeks

2. So does this mean 2009 H1N1 will be gone for good?
Not necessarily. Andrew Pekosz, associate professor of immunology and microbiology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health points out that the three outbreaks in the last century that were caused by new viruses started with a mild wave followed by more severe waves months later.

3. Will there be a vaccine for swine flu?
Scientists are working on it, but creating a new vaccine takes about 6 months. If a vaccine is available in the fall, public health officials say that not everyone will be encouraged to get it. Healthcare workers and those more susceptible to the virus would be first on the list.

4. Could there be a pandemic in the fall?
Health officials say that if there is a repeat in the fall it will most likely be nothing like 1918 pandemic, which killed more than half a million people in the United States. The 2009 H1N1 lacks a gene that is present in highly virulent flu viruses, such as the one in 1918.

For more answers to your questions, visit CNN

Obama's Stimulus to Give Funding for HAI Reduction

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Obama's economic stimulus package includes $50 million dollars to spent on health care-acquired-infections. Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC said that the funds, "will lay the foundation for a systematic national approach to preventing health care-associated infections". There are about 1.7 millions reported HAI's every year, however, as Don Wright, principal deputy assistant secretary for health at HHS, points out, they are almost entirely preventable.

$40 million of the funding will go to the states and their infection control strategies while the remaining $10 million will be used by CMS to enhance inspections to detect HAIs. Because of this increase in funding, Besser estimates that HAI's will reduce by 10-20% within two years (as long as the infection control policies are implemented successfully). However, Besser continuted, these reductions "are contingent upon the capacity of state and federal partners to quickly ramp up efforts to track infections and increase adherence to prevention recommendations".

To read more, visit Medical News Today

UK Hospital MRSA-Free Thanks to Hand Hygiene

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:46:00 +0000

The United Kingdom's Medway Maritime Hospital has gone six months without a single outbreak of MRSA! The reason? Head of infection prevention and control Linda Dempster acknowledged that hand hygiene remains the most important factor in reducing infections.

“In fact we encourage everyone – patients and visitors – to challenge members of staff that they feel aren’t doing enough in terms of hand hygiene," said Ms. Dempster.

The hospital admitted that before some hospital workers weren't entirely compliant with hygiene guidelines, but were challenged to correct it.

It looks like it's paid off, congratulations Medway Maritime!

To read more visit http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Hospital-is-MRSA__free-after-hand__washing-campaign-newsinkent20330.aspx?news=local

Wash Your Hands With Water, Not Gel

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:36:00 +0000

With winter in full force, a salmonella outbreak sweaping the nation, and cold and flu season upon us, it is critical to know how to protect yourself-- Wash your hands.

Experts say that taking hand washing breaks throughout the day, in fact one every one to two hours, and not just after using the restroom can help cut down on illness. '"Eighty percent of infections are transmitted by hands touching some contaminated surface," said CBS4 Medical Editor Dr. Dave Hnida.'

Dr. Hinda reccommends the following steps:
--Scrub vigorously.
--Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
--Pay attention to fingernails and under rings - germs love to hide in those places.
...and when asked about hand gels vs. hand washing, Dr. Hinda said that hand washing is the clear winner. While scrubing hands under soap and water can lift and remove germs and then wash them down the drain, hand gels often leave some of those germs on your hands.

So, keep yourself healthy this winter and wash up!

See the full Denver CBS4 article at http://cbs4denver.com/localhealth/hand.washing.Hnida.2.914412.html

Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:48:00 +0000

The nationwide outbreak of Salmonella, caused by contaminated peanut butter paste products, continues to find victims across 43 states. The Associated Press reported that the outbreak has killed 6 and sickened more than 470. Many companies including General Mills, Kroger, Kellogg, Little Debbie, and Clif Bar have pulled their products containing peanut butter. The outbreak, traced to the Peanut Corp. of America, a peanut butter distributor, is the second in two years that involves infected peanut butter. The Peanut Corp. has extended its recall to peanut butter and peanut butter products produced after July 1. "We deeply regret that this product recall has expanded, and our first priority is to protect the health of our customers," said Stewart Parnell, president of Peanut Corp.

Salmonella, the nations leading cause of food poisoning, tends to pray on the elderly or those with lowered immune systems. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. The FDA and CDC have recommended that consumers stop eating peanut butter products until the outbreak has been corrected. To see the latest list of recalled products visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html

For more information, visit the Associated Press article.

Hospital Infections Spread, So Do Lawsuits

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Medical malpractice lawsuits for claims based on HAIs are on the rise, which is forcing the standard of care to change for the healthcare industry. A number of recent settlements are demonstrating this trend.

On November 6, $13.5 million was awarded to a woman who died of a flesh-eating bacteria that she contracted during cancer treatment. In July, $2.58 million was awarded to a gentleman who contracted MRSA and lost a kidney, leg, and foot when doctors inserted a pacemaker.

Updated guidelines and standards have been set in place for preventing infections, and evidence proves that HAIs are preventable. "Now that the evidence is overwhelming that nearly all infections are preventable, hospitals that don't follow the proven protocols are inviting lawsuits," said Betsy McCaughy, founder and chair of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths.

Read the story here

The Department of Health and Human Services Plan to Reduce HAIs

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:12:00 +0000

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) have evolved into a constant battle for the healthcare industry and consumers. Each year, approximately 1.7 million people are infected with HAIs and roughly 99,000 result in death.

Donald Wright, MD, MPH, principal deputy assistant secretary for health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a detailed account as to how HHS is planning on combating this national healthcare problem in 2009.

Bringing together the HHS's full resources, increasing influenza vaccinations among healthcare workers, and creating more consistency and compatibility of HAI data are just a few of the ways that Dr. Wright and the HHS is working at lowering HAIs.

Click here to view Dr. Wright's plan on how HHS is going to diminish HAIs

Older Blood Boosts Chances of Infection in Transfusion Patients

noreply@blogger.com (meritech) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:05:00 +0000

Patients receiving blood transfusions have plenty of risks to be concerned about and now they can add one more concern to the list.

A new study found that "hospital patients who receive a transfusion of stored blood that is 29 days or older face double the risk for developing one or more serious infections compared to those who got 'fresher' blood'."

"This issue is something that has been on the radar for some time, so the idea that aging blood can pose problems is not completely new," said study author Dr. Raquel Nahra.

Go to U.S. News and World Report to read the original story