Category: Infection Control

Catheters can trigger lurking A. baumannii, causing second infection: study

In a recent study, St. Louis-based Washington University School of Medicine researchers found Acinetobacter baumannii, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium responsible for many hospital-associated infections, can resurge after a catheter insertion.

42% of people filled their respiratory devices with unsafe water, study finds

Nearly 1 in 4 study participants admitted filling their respiratory devices with tap water, which can be unsterile, according to a CDC study. 

Nearly 2 dozen C. auris infections reported at Mississippi long-term care facility

Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungal infection, has been found in a long-term care facility in Central Mississippi, NBC affiliate WLBT reported Jan. 10.

Subtle brain performance changes could predict infection risk

Researchers at the Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan may have found a way to predict risk of infection using cognitive performance tests.

Resistance to antibiotics tied to patient age, healthcare setting: analysis

Antibiotic drug resistance isn’t universal — it varies by the age of the patient and the healthcare setting, according to a study published Jan. 2 in JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance.

5 things to know about the flesh-eating disease tied to invasive strep

Severe strep A infections are on the rise in children, leading to a rise in other diseases associated with strep A, which could include flesh-eating bacteria.

Why N95, surgical masks shouldn't be layered: study

Layering a surgical mask over an N95 may cause leakage, according to a study published Dec. 20 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 

Epidemiology society urges reduced COVID screening at hospitals

Healthcare facilities should no longer routinely screen symptom-free patients for COVID-19 upon admission or before procedures, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America said Dec. 21.

US may see early peak to flu season

Early signs suggest flu season may peak early in the U.S. this year, though health experts caution the upcoming holiday season could spur another uptick in activity.

COVID-19 can spread from dead bodies, research suggests

Emerging research suggests the virus that causes COVID-19 can persist in the bodies of deceased patients, potentially posing an infection risk for healthcare workers, The New York Times reported Dec. 15.