Medscape Presentation on Healthcare Worker Attire - Slide Presentation on the Web

I am still in South Africa, having just attended the International Congress on Infectious Diseaes (see posts from earlier in the week.)

I just received notification of the launch of a recent project. Along with the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and Dr. Mark Rupp of the University of Nebraska, here is a Medscape presentation of healthcare worker apparel. A login is required, however, access to Medscape is free to join.

The slides are slick.

International Congress on Infectious Diseases, Cape Town, South Africa- April 4, 2014

South African song and dance

Plenary Session

Dr. Michael Stevens lecturing on infection prevention strategies

With Dr. Michael Stevens

Lecturing on healthcare worker apparel and infection prevention

We are at the International Congress on Infectious Diseases, enjoying  the scientific program and the cultural experience.

Our presentations went smoothly.

Stay tuned.

International Congress on Infectious Diseases, Cape Town, South Africa-Part 2

Here are some additional images from today.

International Congress on Infectious Diseases- Cape Town, South Africa- Part 1

I am in Cape Town, South Africa, soon to attend the International Congress on Infectious Diseases. Here are a few images from my meanderings about the city.

Congratulations Dr. Wenzel! 2014 Martin S. Favero Award Recipient

Congratulations to our own Dr. Richard Wenzel for being recognized with the International Federation of Infection Control’s 2014 Martin S. Favero Award.
Dr. Wenzel is highlighted here in VCU News.

Dr. Wenzel has been an inspiration and mentor to many of us in infection prevention. 

We are greatly honored to have him as one of our own at Virginia Commonwealth University.

State of Infection Prevention Efforts in US Hospitals

Source: CDC.gov

Here is the  latest CDC release on the state of infection prevention in US Hospitals. We have further work ahead to reduce hospital acquired infections and most, if not all, hospitals cannot claim uniform implementation and adherence of infection prevention best practices.

To quote Dr. Frieden of the CDC:

"Although there has been some progress, today and every day, more than 200 Americans with healthcare-associated infections will die during their hospital stay” 

It should be clear though that all infections are likely not preventable. The current state of infection prevention science cannot eliminate all infections. For the interested reader, I will refer you to this paper on estimating the proportion of healthcare associated infections that are preventable .

Infection prevention science is not yet salvation from hospital acquired infections.

Contact Precautions- More May Not Be Better

The uncertainty and controversy about how best to apply contact precautions, particularly for endemic
pathogens, continues.

Here is a recent publication in Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology that assessed contact precautions across eleven university hospitals. As the proportion of patients in contact isolation increases, compliance with contact isolation precautions decreases. 

Of particular interest was the finding that placing 40% of patients under contact precautions was a tipping point for noncompliance with contact isolation precautions.

To me this further suggests that we should be thoughtful and judicious in the application of contact isolation precautions for our patients.

No doubt there will be more coming on this subject.