Efficacy of povidone-iodine nasal antiseptic for rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2
Editor's Note This controlled, in-vitro study investigates the minimum contact time for povidone-iodine nasal antiseptic to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus. All laboratory work was conducted in biosafety level 3 laboratories at the Institute for Antiviral Research at Utah State University, Logan. Povidone-iodine was tested at diluted concentrations of 0.5%, 1.25%,…
CDC revises COVID-19 testing guidelines
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 18 revised its COVID-19 testing guidelines that said testing was optional for asymptomatic people regardless of contact with infected individuals. The revised guidelines say that because of the significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, testing is recommended for…
COVID-19 infections in HCWs exposed to patient with delayed diagnosis
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Brigham and Womenโs Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, examine the risk in healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to a 79-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on day 13 of hospitalization. A total of 44 HCWs were exposed to the patient before…
HHS, DOD outline COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DOD) on September 16 released two documents outlining a detailed strategy for delivering safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to the American people as quickly and reliably as possible. The documents, which were developed in…
CDC: COVID-19 deaths in those aged 21 and younger
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 15 reported that 121 of nearly 392,000 children and young adults who contracted COVID-19 in the US have died. Three-quarters of the deaths involved at least one comorbidity and 45% had two or more, with the most common…
Joint Commission to provide lab accreditation for VA
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced September 16 that it has been selected to provide Laboratory Accreditation Program services for the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These services will be provided at VA Medical Centers and community-based outpatient clinics. Laboratories are accredited every 2 years by the Joint Commission.
Fit testing, airborne protection of N95, other masks
Editor's Note Masks, such as N95 respirators, are made of material with sufficient high filter capacity to protect against airborne respiratory viruses. However, viral protection can only be provided by masks that properly fit the wearerโs face and provide a tight facial seal, this review article finds. Among the findings:…
ECRI, ISMP celebrate World Patient Safety Day September 17
Editor's Note ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) are joining global leaders in celebrating World Patient Safety Day, September 17, 2020. This yearโs theme is โHealth Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety.โ In honor of the day and to support healthcare workers, ECRI has launched a…
Restoring filtration efficiency after decontamination of used N95 masks
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Indiaโs Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Israelโs Technion-IIT discover how to recharge used N95 masks after decontamination to recover their 95% efficiency. Also included is a proof-of-concept construction of a battery-operated smart mask. N95 masks are 95% efficient at filtering out 0.3…
CDC: Close contact in restaurants tied to spread of COVID-19
Editor's Note This study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that adults with positive COVID-19 test results were almost twice as likely to have dined in a restaurant (including indoor, patio, and outdoor seating) within 2 weeks of developing symptoms. The study included 615 potential case…