The last weeks of the year were marked by a considerable increase in weekly flu hospitalizations in Colorado, reaching unprecedented levels in over two decades. As clinicians at UCHealth contemplated how to respond to the deteriorating situation, Banner Health, an Arizona-based hospital system, swiftly adopted a comprehensive masking policy across its facilities throughout six states,…
The respiratory pathogen named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019 and escalated into a global pandemic by March 2020. By September 2025, more than 7 million deaths had occurred worldwide due to the resulting disease, COVID-19. The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are wide, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe conditions…
In light of the global pandemic, hospitals in Northern Ireland had to adopt certain changes as a necessity rather than a preference, according to the region’s former Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Professor Charlotte McArdle. These changes, particularly restricting hospital visits, were characterized as 'the least worst option'. This challenging approach was necessitated by the exceptionally…
A deep dive into research reveals essential findings on the dynamics and economic burdens of SARS-CoV-2 infections within hospitals, crucial knowledge for those invested in infection prevention. The study involved a thorough retrospective analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infections from March 2020 to June 2021 in two secondary care hospitals in Germany. It focused on elucidating the…
In the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant surge in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) which raised alarms among healthcare professionals. Understanding the factors contributing to this alarming trend was, however, not well-established. In response to this challenge, investigators connected to Advocate Health, based in Charlotte, NC, conducted a comprehensive study…
Recent research published in Clinical Infectious Diseases scrutinizes the effectiveness of infection prevention (IP) protocols, specifically those implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, in safeguarding healthcare workers and patients against the virus. While infection prevention measures have served as fundamental tools against infectious diseases in healthcare settings for decades, their potency in the face of SARS-CoV-2…