Infection Control news and information

After two measles cases were recently diagnosed in Boston, public health officials issued a warning reminding the public that the disease can spread fast among the unvaccinated—about 3% of the state's population. Western Massachusetts in particular has a rising number of parents who decline...
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It's a simple enough request, but for patients and families who feel vulnerable, scared or uncomfortable in a hospital room, the subject can be too intimidating to even bring up with a doctor or nurse: Have you washed your hands? Hospitals are encouraging patients to be more assertive, amid growing...
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Influenza vaccinations among children and healthcare personnel reached record levels last year, according to federal officials, but the overall vaccination rate remained short of meeting goals of minimizing the risk of a potential outbreak.
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When patients check into a hospital, they expect doctors there to fix what ails them, but 1 in 20 contract a healthcare-based infection. The problem is not a new one, top health officials say, but as more patients receive minor surgeries and care at clinics and doctor's offices instead of pricier...
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Cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections acquired in U.S. hospitals dropped nearly 54% from 2005-2011, according to a new government study.
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At least 15 people may have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from neurosurgery instruments that had first been used at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H.
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A hospital in Manchester, N.H., has notified eight patients who may have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from neurosurgery instruments.
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More than $75 million will go to states to help strengthen their response to a variety of infectious diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
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A new analysis of New York hospital data showed a reduction in surgical death rates and improvements in treating serious illnesses over a decade despite higher post-surgical infections and deaths from operations where part of the skull is removed.
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Requiring healthcare workers to get flu shots doesn't necessarily lead to high quitting rates, according to results of a newly released study.
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