Infection Control
Using Video Monitoring To Measure Hand-Washing Compliance
May 21, 2013 10:21 am | News | CommentsThe North Shore-LIJ Health System is expanding a first-of-its-kind video monitoring system used to measure hand-washing compliance at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY, by introducing cameras in operating rooms at Forest Hills (NY) Hospital. The new pilot program strengthens patient safety by providing hospitals with real-time feedback in their operating rooms.
Source Of Infection Affects Hospital Mortality In Septic Shock Patients In The ICU
May 20, 2013 10:29 am | News | CommentsIn ICU patients who have septic shock, the anatomic source of infection has a strong effect on the chances of survival, according to a new study from researchers in Canada. Understanding the local infection source in patients with septic shock may influence treatment strategies and clinical outcomes.
Multi-Purpose Surgical Drape Clamp
May 20, 2013 10:10 am | by Spectrum Surgical Instruments | Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. | Product Releases | CommentsSpectrum Surgical Instruments Corporation is pleased to offer a Multi-Purpose Surgical Drape Clamp. The familiar design of the easy-to-grip clip allows for secure clamping of surgical drapes to IV poles and drape-stands. The clip is washable, reusable, rust-resistant, and fully-autoclavable.
Waste Management System
May 15, 2013 11:37 am | by Bemis Health Care | Bemis Health Care | Product Releases | CommentsQuick-Drain Waste Management Systems from Bemis Health Care provide safe and cost-effective disposal of liquid infectious waste. It will drain waste from canisters used in all areas of a facility as well as the OR. Fluid goes into the sanitary sewer at a rate of 500cc per second, saving staff time.
Bacteria Research Leads To More Effective Treatment Of Complex Infections
May 14, 2013 11:01 am | News | Comments"We have now established what decides whether (bacteria) swim or not - and that determines whether they form biofilms or not," explains Mikkel Girke Jørgensen and continues: "Prospects for the pharmaceutical industry are huge. This increased understanding of biofilm formation may be the first step in creating new ways to treat complicated infections in the future. "
Surgical Drapes
May 14, 2013 10:02 am | by Cardinal Health | Cardinal Health | Product Releases | CommentsTiburon Surgical Drapes are designed to provide maximum clinician and patient safety with classification as a Level 4 device under the AAMI guidelines for barrier performance, strike-through barrier technology for impervious strength, and an absorbent top layer to help control fluid.
New UV-C-Reflective Wall Coating Dramatically Reduces Disinfection Times For TRU-D Device
May 13, 2013 3:09 pm | News | CommentsA recent study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (William A. Rutala, Ph.D., MPH, et al., 2013) confirms the ability of a new UV-C-reflective wall coating to dramatically reduce the time necessary to decontaminate a room using the UV-C-emitting device TRU-D SmartUVC.
Use Of TYRX Antibacterial Envelope Associated With Extremely Low 90-Day Cardiac Device Infection Rates
May 13, 2013 2:54 pm | News | CommentsUse of TYRX, Inc.’s AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope reduced major infection rates by more than 90 percent in patients undergoing Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) replacement procedures compared to similar high-risk cohorts, according to a recent clinical study.
VaproQuip Decontamination Room
May 13, 2013 10:13 am | by Steris | Steris Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsSteris has unveiled the VaproQuip Decontamination Room. Biological contamination can be present almost anywhere in a hospital. Aggressive pathogens on environmental surfaces, such as high-touch, difficult-to-clean surfaces of mobile equipment and furniture, can remain viable for extended periods of time.
Biosensor Detects Antibiotic Resistance And Helps Fight Superbugs
May 8, 2013 10:47 am | News | CommentsA biosensor can detect antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This new technology is a preliminary step in identifying and fighting superbugs, a major public health concern that has led to more deaths than AIDS in the United States in recent years.
DuraBlue Sterilization Wrap
May 6, 2013 9:44 am | by Cardinal Health | Cardinal Health | Product Releases | CommentsCardinal Health announced that DuraBlue Sterilization Wrap received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for STERRAD NX and STERRAD 100NX Systems from Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP). The wrap also received FDA clearance for 180-day extended sterility maintenance indications for each 510(k)-cleared sterilization modality.
A 'Clean' Break From Tradition
May 1, 2013 2:37 pm | Articles | CommentsSurgical Products recently spoke with Chuck Dunn, president of Lumalier, about some non-traditional and next-generation methods of infection control being practiced in hospitals today. Lumalier makes Tru-D SmartUVC, a portable UV disinfection system.
Arm Yourself With Knowledge
May 1, 2013 1:55 pm | by David Jagrosse | Articles | CommentsWe need to adapt and educate ourselves on how to combat, interrupt, and destroy healthcare-associated infections. HAIs are running rampant within the healthcare system. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are over 1.2 million infections a year with 100,000 deaths occurring.
PurMist
April 26, 2013 10:19 am | by Integrity Supply | Product Releases | CommentsNew PurMist from Integrity Supply is the only full body sanitizer that uses natural essential oils, offers glove-like protection for the hands and is an eco-friendly product. PurMist moisturizes skin/hands and offers four hours of continual protection after each application.
New CDC Study Confirms Effectiveness Of UV-C Disinfection In Reducing Harmful Pathogens For Hospitals
April 22, 2013 12:56 pm | News | CommentsA recent study funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epicenters Program supports and expands on previously published studies confirming the effectiveness of an automated UV-C-emitting device to combat the pathogens Clostridium difficile (C. diff.), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Acinetobacter spp.
Progress In Antibiotic Development 'Alarmingly Elusive'
April 19, 2013 11:49 am | News | CommentsDespite the desperate need for new antibiotics to combat increasingly deadly resistant bacteria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one new systemic antibiotic since the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) launched its 10 x '20 Initiative in 2010 — and that drug was approved two and a half years ago.
Outpatients, Hospital Patients Face Different Issues With Antibiotic Resistance
April 19, 2013 9:07 am | News | CommentsA new study concludes that problems with antibiotic resistance faced by outpatients may be as bad as those in hospitalized patients, and that more studies of outpatients are needed – both to protect their health and to avoid inappropriate or unnecessary drug use.
Energy Efficiency Could Increase Infection Risks In Hospital Wards
April 16, 2013 11:47 am | News | CommentsThe chance of infection in some hospital wards varies dramatically according to whether the nurses leave the windows open. A University of Leeds-led team studied airflow in a "Nightingale" ward—a classic hospital ward design that traditionally accommodates two rows of up to 30 beds—by using tracer gases to simulate how airborne infections spread.
Skin Prep Antiseptics
April 16, 2013 9:48 am | by Aplicare | Product Releases | CommentsAplicare from Clorox Healthcare provides sterile preoperative skin preparation antiseptics. For product safety and patient care, these sterile skin antiseptics are designed to enhance an infection prevention program. The Aplicare sterile skin antiseptics are sterilized after the product has been placed in the packaging.
Lancaster Hospital Using Xenex "Robot" To Battle Superbugs
April 12, 2013 1:05 pm | News | CommentsLancaster General Hospital’s newest weapon against hospital-acquired infections looks a little like R2-D2 from Star Wars. The new room disinfecting systemuses ultraviolet (UV-C) light that is 25,000 times more powerful than the sun to ‘zap’ nasty organismsthat cause infections like the flu, norovirus, and MRSA.
Bleach-Rite Spray
April 10, 2013 10:07 am | by Current Technologies | Current Technologies, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsBleach-Rite Spray is a one-step, intermediate level disinfectant containing 0.525% or 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite from Current Technologies. EPA registered Bleach-Rite Spray is stabilized and the expiration date is stamped on every bottle.
Decontamination Of Unused Medical Supplies Reduces Healthcare Costs
April 9, 2013 11:20 am | News | CommentsUsing inventory lists and electronic medical records, researchers projected the annual cost of discarded supplies because of potentially contaminated packages from patient isolation rooms from the six units included in the study to be $387,055.
Copper Surfaces Reduce The Rate Of Healthcare-Acquired ICU Infections
April 9, 2013 10:49 am | News | CommentsPlacement of copper objects in intensive care unit (ICU) hospital rooms reduced the number of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) in patients by more than half, according to a new study. The proportion of patients who developed HAI and/or colonization with MRSA or VRE was significantly lower among patients in rooms with copper surfaces.
Endocavity Ultrasound Probe Workstations
April 9, 2013 10:02 am | by AirClean Systems | Airclean Systems | Product Releases | CommentsAirClean Systems VP50 Endocavity Ultrasound Probe Workstations allow effective and efficient disinfection of transvaginal ultrasound probes while protecting the technician from potentially harmful exposure to high level disinfectant vapors.
How Clean Is Too Clean?
April 4, 2013 12:00 pm | by NBC News | Videos | CommentsHow clean is too clean? Dr. Keri Peterson talks about the ant-bacterial and anti-microbial products we use that could be blocking the germs are body actually needs.
