Tag: Bloodborne Pathogens

Needlestick events and reporting among surgical residents

Editor's Note This national survey of surgical residents found that needlesticks occur frequently, many events are not reported, and numerous reporting barriers exist. Of 7,395 respondents from all 260 general surgery residency programs, 27.7% noted experiencing a needlestick in the last 6 months. Most events occurred in the OR (77.5%)…

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By: Judy Mathias
September 26, 2019
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Inspections reveal need to overhaul bronchoscope reprocessing methods

Extensive research by Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues at Ofstead & Associates (St Paul, Minnesota) has raised concerns about insufficient reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and ureteroscopes—even when recommended practices are followed—and their new study makes a compelling case for more stringent reprocessing of bronchoscopes as well. In their…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, RN
August 23, 2019
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Proactive policies help protect staff from bloodborne pathogen exposure

Healthcare workers are at risk for bloodborne pathogen exposures in areas ranging from the clinic to the OR—both inpatient and outpatient settings. Such exposures not only cause anxiety, they cost an estimated $3,000 to $5,000 per exposure for things such as baseline and follow-up laboratory testing, treatment of exposed personnel,…

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By: Amy L. Bethel, MPA, RN, NE-BC
August 23, 2019
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CDC investigating sepsis cases after platelet transfusions

Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced June 14 in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that four hospital patients developed sepsis after receiving platelet transfusions contaminated with bacteria. The CDC found that the platelets contained Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The agency is still…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 17, 2019
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CDC: Hepatitis A infections up nearly 300%

Editor's Note In the May 10 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that hepatitis A infections were up 294% in 2016-2018, compared with 2013-2015. The increases are related to outbreaks among homeless people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs,…

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By: Judy Mathias
May 13, 2019
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FDA continues efforts to assess duodenoscope contamination risk

Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on April 12 announced that it is taking steps to implement additional regulatory actions, including consulting with federal health experts, on how to reduce the risks of contamination and infections linked to duodenoscopes. The agency is also collaborating with manufacturers of disposable…

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By: Judy Mathias
April 18, 2019
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Study: Fish oil does not increase bleeding risk in cardiac surgery patients

Editor's Note Fish oil did not increase perioperative bleeding and reduced the number of blood transfusions in cardiac surgery patients, in this study. A total of 1,516 cardiac surgery patients were randomized to perioperative fish oil or placebo−from 2 to 5 days before surgery until discharge. The primary outcome of…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 6, 2018
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FDA updates draft guidance on safety of US blood supply

Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration on December 4 updated a draft guidance that promotes the development and adoption of innovations to ensure continued safety of the US blood supply. The draft guidance entitled, “Bacterial risk control strategies for blood collection establishments and transfusion services to enhance the safety…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 6, 2018
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Incidence of sharps injuries among surgical staff

Editor's Note This meta-analysis found that a surgeon will have a sharps injury in about 1 in 10 surgical procedures. Of 45 studies analyzed, the incidence rate was 13.2 sharps injuries per 100 time-units. Per 100 person-years, the rate was 88.2 for self-reported injuries, 40.0 for perforations, and 5.8 for administrative…

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By: Judy Mathias
November 29, 2018
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Restrictive vs liberal transfusion strategy for cardiac surgery patients

Editor's Note In cardiac surgery patients at moderate-to-high risk for death, a restrictive strategy for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was equivalent to a liberal strategy, with respect to death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or renal failure, at 6-months follow-up, this study finds. There also were no significant…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 2, 2018
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