Transmission of COVID-19 by vaccinated, unvaccinated individuals
Editor's Note This South Korean study finds that fully vaccinated individuals have a shorter duration of viable viral shedding and a lower rate of secondary transmission than partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals. This study uses 2 cohorts to separately determine the transmissibility of COVID-19 according to vaccination status (ie, fully…
ECRI: 2022 winners of Alerts Impact Award
Editor's Note ECRI on May 25 announced the three winners and three finalists of its 2022 Alerts Impact Award for excellence in recall management. The annual award is given to those who have demonstrated strong success in implementing recall management programs in their healthcare organizations. The winners are: Eskenazi Health,…
Surgical outcomes in children with COVID-19
Editor's Note This retrospective cohort study from researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, finds that children having surgical procedures while infected with COVID-19 may be at increased risk for development of pulmonary complications. The analysis included 73 pediatric patients who had surgical procedures within…
The Joint Commission: Accelerate PI Dashboard Reports available
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on May 25 announced that refreshed Accelerate PI Dashboard Reports are available for accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals to provide updated performance measurement data on a select subset of quality measures. The Interim ORYX reports contain data through the second quarter of 2021, and…
Private sector, federal agency experts join Biden Administration to boost healthcare supply chain
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has engaged experts from the private sector and various government agencies to “share information and best practices, identify threats, and mitigate risks” regarding the US supply chains, including for healthcare, according to an Office of the Assistant Secretary for…
COVID-19 ‘long-haulers’ still experience symptoms after 15 months
Editor's Note This study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, finds that non-hospitalized COVID-19 “long-haulers” continue to experience symptoms an average of 15 months after disease onset. Of 52 patients who completed the study, there was no significant change in the frequency of most symptoms between the first…
Georgia becomes eighth state to go smoke-free
Editor's Note On May 9, Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed into law SB573, which requires the evacuation of smoke during plume-producing surgical procedures. The law states: “Each hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall adopt policies for the reduction of human exposure to surgical smoke.” Brenda Ulmer, MN, RN, CNOR,…
Prevalence of COVID-19 in symptom-free HCWs
Editor's Note This study led by researchers from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, finds a low prevalence of COVID-19 in symptom-free healthcare workers (HCWs) working in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. In the 14 days before enrollment in the study, 40% of participants reported a known COVID-19 exposure. PPE use was…
Surgeon General Advisory highlights need to address HCW burnout
Editor's Note Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, on May 23, issued an Advisory highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers (HCWs) and the urgent need to address HCW burnout across the country. Among the Advisory’s recommendations: Transforming workplace cultures to empower HCWs and be responsive to their…
CDC health advisory update on treating COVID-19 recurrence with antiviral pill
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 24 issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory to update healthcare providers and the public on treating the potential for recurrence of COVID-19, also termed “COVID-19 rebound.” According to the health advisory update, there is “currently no evidence…