Search results for "Infection prevention"
CDC publishes guidance on testing for flu, COVID-19, RSV
Patients being hospitalized with acute respiratory illness during flu season should be tested with the combined nucleic acid assay for influenza A/B/SARS-CoV-2, if possible, with repeat testing if the SARS-CoV-2 result is negative.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2023/12/20/free/cdc-publishes-guidance-on-testing-for-flu-covid-19-rsv.htm
20 Dec 2023
Two-step testing for Clostridioides difficile appears safe in multicenter study
Using an enzyme immunoassay after a positive nucleic acid amplification test was associated with a decrease in hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections and a reduction in related antibiotic use but no change in emergent colectomies.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2023/06/14/two-step-testing-for-clostridioides-difficile-appears-safe-in-multicenter-study.htm
14 Jun 2023
Hospitals can stop testing for COVID-19 in asymptomatic patients, societies say
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation no longer recommend universal screening for COVID-19 before admission or surgery.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2023/01/04/free/hospitals-can-stop-testing-for-covid-19-in-asymptomatic-patients-societies-say.htm
4 Jan 2023
Moving on from readmissions
Some experts are saying it's time for hospitals and payers to shift their focus from preventing readmissions to pursuing other quality objectives.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2022/10/26/moving-on-from-readmissions.htm
26 Oct 2022
Making sense of monkeypox
Two experts offered advice to hospitalists on their role in dealing with this latest infectious disease outbreak.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2022/10/12/free/making-sense-of-monkeypox.htm
12 Oct 2022
Latest COVID-19 research looks at plasma antigen levels, oral antivirals, HAIs
Studies found that plasma antigen levels of SARS-CoV-2 were associated with severity of illness, molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir improved outcomes in inpatients with mild-to-moderate illness, and small hospitals were hit hard by a pandemic rise in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2022/08/31/free/latest-covid-19-research-looks-at-plasma-antigen-levels-oral-antivirals-hais.htm
31 Aug 2022
COVID-19 stalls progress made against antimicrobial resistance in U.S.
Antimicrobial-resistant infections and deaths related to hospitalization both increased by at least 15% during the first year of the pandemic, according to a recent CDC report.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2022/07/20/free/covid-19-stalls-progress-made-against-antimicrobial-resistance-in-us.htm
20 Jul 2022
Computerized clinical decision support may help reduce unnecessary C. diff testing
A two-year cohort study of nine academic and six community hospitals in the U.S. found that testing for Clostridioides difficile decreased when the electronic health record stopped a clinician from proceeding with a test order if the patient had already been tested or had recently received laxatives.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/archives/2022/02/09/computerized-clinical-decision-support-may-help-reduce-unnecessary-c-diff-testing.htm
9 Feb 2022
Rise in HAIs during the pandemic, guidance on monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19
A new study found significant growth in health care-associated infections (HAIs), especially central line-associated bloodstream infections, during 2020, and the NIH offered advice on prioritization when monoclonal antibodies can't be given to all eligible patients.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/weekly/archives/2021/09/15/1.htm
15 Sep 2021
Dexamethasone use, pandemic cardiac arrests and HAIs, latest COVID-19 vaccine news
Recent studies looked at use of dexamethasone and rates of in-hospital cardiac arrest in COVID-19 patients, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) during the pandemic, and vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Also, the FDA and new research supported a third vaccine dose for organ transplant patients.
https://acphospitalist.acponline.org/weekly/archives/2021/08/18/1.htm
18 Aug 2021