Archive for: July, 2011
Lab accreditor changes CJD-related guidelines
I want to make readers aware of a change involving labs and the safe handling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens when Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD) is suspected.
CJD is a fatal and degenerative brain disease and because CJD prions resist routine sterilization and decontamination procedures, the Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) requires special handling procedures for autopsies in suspect cases of CJD.
Joint Commission looks at sterilization and high-level disinfection
Here is a good analysis of recent the Joint Commission recommendations on sterilization and high-level disinfection from the Association for Healthcare Accreditation Professionals Blog.
World Hepatitis Day: Take note of occupational prevention resources
Occupational exposure to hepatitis is a concern among healthcare workers, so take note of today, July 28, World Hepatitis Day.
The date was chosen because it is the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg (1925-2011), who “discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967 and two years later developed the first hepatitis B vaccine and for these achievements won the Nobel Prize,” according to the CDC.
Don’t follow the money for patient satisfaction
Cleanliness is not always next to costliness, when it come to hospital cleaning budgets and pleasing patients.
Here is a report from by my colleague Tami Swartz, managing editor at HCPro’s Patient Safety Monitor Blog, which explains why:
Read the rest of this entry »
Study: One in three people affected by healthcare-associated infections
Look to the person on your left, now on the right; chances are that one of you has been affected by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Ask the expert: Flu shot resources for skittish healthcare workers
Q: Many of my staff members are afraid of the influenza vaccination. Education is good but are there any special tips to break through the anxiety?
Six hepatitis deaths brings $16K fine for assisted living center
The assisted living center where six residents died from hepatitis B has been fined $16,000, by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, reports WRAL.com, July 23.
An investigation by the state health department linked the deaths to unsafe blood glucose monitoring practices at Glen Care of Mount Olive, NC. “Monitors were sometimes stored together, weren’t labeled with residents’ names and weren’t disinfected after each use, according to investigators,” reports WRAL.com. Two other residents also contracted hepatitis B from reused devices.
Officials from Glen Care disagree with the finding of the investigation, suggesting that the hepatitis infections are from outside sources or from residents sharing drinks or having unprotected sex, according to the report.
The assisted living center has 60 days to appeal or pay the fine.
For guidance on preventing unsafe injection practices with blood glucose monitors, see Infection Control and Safe Injection Practices: Diabetes Care on the OSHA Healthcare Advisor Tools page.
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Study: Healthcare students fall short of passing Hep B grade
Healthcare students may be entering their profession not fully protected from one its deadly hazards, the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
A study examining HBV vaccination records among healthcare students at a southeast U.S. university found that 59.8% of students had documentation of complete vaccination against HBV,
A list not to make
It was good to see that no healthcare facilities had the dubious distinction of making the newly updated OSHA Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) log.
According to OSHA CPL 02-00-149, businesses make the SVEP list when an inspection finds one or more of four criteria below:
Horrible Bosses: Silver screen amusement, real world solutions
Here’s a tip of the hat to NIOSH for keeping it real in a pop-cultural way.
The current NIOSH Safety Blog “Horrible Bosses” uses the film by the same name to instruct on workplace violence prevention.
Weekly poll: Is your boss a champion or nemesis of workplace safety?
The NIOSH Science blog takes a cue from the film, “Horrible Bosses,” to look at and offer suggestions to prevent workplace violence in the real world, and it specifically makes references to healthcare settings. Not limiting the issue to workplace violence, what role does your boss play in supporting and improving workplace safety in your healthcare facility? Take our OSHA Healthcare Advisor Weekly Poll and let us know.
Study: Clinical and nonclinical workers susceptible to H1N1
Nonclinical healthcare workers were just as likely to come down with the flu as were clinical workers during the H1N1 pandemic, according to a study published August issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
