Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and infection (CDC) on October 31 reported that the risk of hospital patients having healthcare-associated infections was 16% lower in 2015 than in 2011, largely because of declines in surgical site and urinary tract infections. The percentage of patients having surgical site and…

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Editor's Note The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 18 announced the availability of free, downloadable Quick Observation Tools to help facilities prevent healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The Tools include 20 sets of quick assessment forms that…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 11 released as report showing progress by hospitals in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The report shows hospitals reduced: abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infections (SSIs) by 13% central line-associated bloodstream infections by 11% Clostridium difficile infections by 8% catheter-associated…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 11 released new infection prevention resources for podiatry and orthopedic and pain management settings. Free resources include: Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Podiatry Settings (available now). Guide to Infection Prevention in Orthopedic and Pain Management…

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Editor's Note Preliminary data, reported August 15, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that drug overdose mortality in the US hit record high levels last year, increasing to more than 72,000 deaths. The increase in mortality was driven mainly by fatalities involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.…

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Editor's Note Naloxone administration by emergency medical services increased 75.1% between 2012 and 2016, mirroring a 79.7% increase in fatal opioid overdoes during the same time period, according to the August 10 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Young adults made…

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Editor's Note After a routine survey, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) declared “Immediate Jeopardy” at UC San Diego’s Hillcrest campus because of cleaning issues with its surgical equipment, the June 8 10News reports. A CDPH report says that deficiencies found included: trays of surgical equipment with brown stains…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 11 issued a Health Advisory on investigations of hepatitis A outbreaks in multiple states in people reporting drug use and/or homelessness and their contacts. From January 2017 to April 2018, the CDC has received more than 2,500 reports…

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Editor's Note The first look at possible new ICD-10 codes is expected in early May, and anxiety is building, according to the April 24 ICD10monitor. The comment period has passed for providing feedback on the ICD-10-PCS (inpatient procedure coding) codes, and comments for the ICD-10-CM (diagnosis coding) proposals are not…

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Editor's Note All eligible Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that want to avoid future penalties must complete a new electronic form by April 14 via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network website in order to report on ASC-8: Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel, the Ambulatory…

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