Infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals grapple with the ongoing issue of instrument contamination despite adherence to rigorous reprocessing practices and manufacturer guidelines. Two recent studies, spotlighted in The Journal of Hospital Infection and American Journal of Infection Control, present alarming instances of contamination in new endoscopes and cleaned lumened surgical instruments and shed light…
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a common airborne fungus and significant human opportunistic pathogen, causing invasive aspergillosis that results in approximately 14,000 hospitalisations and over 1,200 deaths annually in the United States alone. The risk of A. fumigatus infection increases with the use of hormones, immunosuppressants, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and the incidence of cancer and immunodeficiency…
A bibliographic delineation from the 'Infection and Drug Resistance' journal scientifically appraises the effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and Infection Prevention and Control Programs (IPCP) in administering antibiotics and containing resistance from Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) across multiple medical facilities.
Authored by an array of scholars including Lei Liu, Bin Liu, Liang Li, Yu Li, Xiangdong Zhou,…
Despite most parts of the United States witnessing an alarming surge in respiratory ailments, Edward Hospital based in Naperville, Illinois, has remained relatively unimpacted. The hospital reports that the current number of flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases falls within the average spectrum for this season.
However, the healthcare facility isn't taking the situation…
On July 14, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced four confirmed instances of H5N1 bird flu in human beings. The affected individuals were all employees at a poultry facility in Colorado.
In addition to these confirmed cases, the CDC is investigating a fifth suspected case, where the diagnosis is still pending…