Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 9 identified the recall by Haimen Shengbang Laboratory Equipment Co Ltd of its Viral Transport Media Containers as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the products were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, finds that healthcare facilities in counties with higher Black composition and rural areas with large Hispanic populations were less likely to serve as COVID-19 vaccine administration locations during the initial rollout in May 2021. At that…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 1 identified the recall by North American Diagnostics of its Oral Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Kits as Class I, the most serious. These tests are being recalled because they were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…
Editor's Note This study led by researchers in the UK finds that face shields do not give high levels of protection against external droplet contamination. The researchers compared 13 styles of face shields in controlled laboratory settings, using a “coughing machine” that ejected fluorescent drops onto manikin heads. Among the…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on July 13, posted a nationwide recall by Hospira Inc (a Pfizer Company) of one lot (DX9067) of Propofol Injectable Emulsion, USP (containing Benzyl alcohol), 100 mL single patient use glass fliptop vial. The recall was initiated because of visible particulate observed…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 28 identified the recall by Covidien, LLC (Medtronic) of its Palindrome and Mahurkar hemodialysis catheters as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a catheter hub defect that connects both extension catheters. There is a potential…
Editor's Note This study led by nurse researchers Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Karen Lasater, PhD, RN, FAAN, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, finds that if New York state enacts nurse staffing legislation currently under consideration, many lives would be saved and shorter hospital stays…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on July 27 announced that it is revising its National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) Standard NPSG.15.01.01, element of performance (EP) 1, to now include long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals, effective January 1, 2023. The change will allow The Joint Commission to score environmental risk assessment…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 25 identified the recall by Baxter Healthcare Corporation of its Abacus Order Entry and Calculation Software application as Class I, the most serious. The Abacus software app can translate a physician’s order into a compounded solution. The recall was initiated…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 19 added automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and chest drains/suction canisters and autotransfusion systems to its list of medical device shortages during COVID-19. The shortage of chest drains/suction canisters and autotransfusion systems is because of increased demand. The shortage of AEDs…