UK-Camden New Journal-Coming clean: Hospital’s dirty secrets revealed
September 20th, 2007UK-Legal & Medical-Johnson announces new anti-infection measures
September 19th, 2007ealth Secretary Alan Johnson this week announced a package of measures to help tackle hospital infections.
The Health Secretary said, “I’m determined that patient safety, including cleanliness, should be the first priority of every organisation.
“This is a clear signal to patients that doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff are taking their safety seriously,” he added.
The new measures include:
1. Matrons and clinical directors will report directly to trust boards on infection contol and cleanliness.
2. Hospitals will adopt a new “bare below the elbows” dress code – ending use of the traditional doctors’ white coat.
3. Isolation for those patients who are infected with MRSA and C difficile. Greater use of single rooms, cohort nursing and better management of isolated patients.
4. The National Patient Safety Agency will extend its ‘cleanyourhands’ campain outside of hospitals.
5. A new legal requirement will be placed on chief executives to report all MRSA and C difficile infections to the Health Protection Agency.
US-ABC News-Docs: U.K. Coat Ban Alone Won’t Stop Infection
September 17th, 2007Canada-Globe and Mail-Hospitals urged to post infection rates
September 13th, 2007US-MA-Milford Daily News-Lawmakers push health care bill
September 13th, 2007US-PA-Waynesboro Record Herald-Waynesboro crosswalk victim dies in hospital
September 13th, 2007Franklin Bowers, 71, who lived at Trinity House on North Potomac Street, died from an infection called clostridium difficile colitis (c-diff), according to his son, Dwayne Bowers of Waynesboro.
Dwayne is not sure if the infection was caused by his injuries in the crash and is attempting to get his father’s medical records. He said if the infection was caused by the accident, his lawyers will proceed from there. Dwayne Bowers said he does not know if Waynesboro police will become involved if his father’s death is related to the crash.
US-IN-Indy Star.com-IU researcher leads fight against infections
September 10th, 2007Study of how to reduce hospital superbugs could help save lives, money nationwide
It may be as simple as screening hospital patients for superbug infections.
Canada-The Canadian Press- Symptomless carriers of C. diff may pose infection risk to other patients
September 10th, 2007TORONTO (CP) — People who have C. difficile spores in their gastrointestinal tracts but who aren’t sick may be serving as a source of infection for others in hospitals and long-term care facilities battling outbreaks of the difficult-to-contain diarrhea, a new study suggests.U.S. researchers found these seemingly unaffected patients were nearly as likely as people sick with Clostridium difficile diarrhea to have the bacteria on their skin or on objects in their bedside area.
Canada-Globe and Mail-Top hospital to screen all patients for superbugs
September 9th, 2007TORONTO — Canada’s largest research hospital is about to launch a massive screening program that will test every overnight patient for two virulent superbugs that kill thousands in their path. For the 30,000 people admitted annually at the University Health Network in Toronto – whether for a broken hip or brain surgery – the nation’s most ambitious bug-fighting plan in history will subject their noses, underarms, groins and anuses to swab-wielding staff.