FDA Knew Medical Devices Can Transmit Superbugs but Did Not Act
Experts in hospital-acquired infections say that health regulators have known since at least 2009 that certain reusable medical devices can transmit lethal infections but have not recommended any new safety requirements. The latest outbreak involving duodenoscopes may have exposed 179 patients at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical … [Read more...]
Infections Tied to Reused Medication Vials
Infections are being linked to reused medication vials, according to media reports. Federal authorities are blaming the issue on a lack of appropriately packaged medications that are placing patients at risks, said MSNBC. Authorities warned that clinics might be giving injections to more than one patient from vials intended for use … [Read more...]
MRSA, Other Skin Infections Plague Athletes
We have previously written about the issue of MRSA and athletes. Now, says Bloomberg Businessweek, one dermatologist is warning that team players could be sharing some contagious skin infections, including the dangerous MRSA. "Outbreaks of ringworm, herpes, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have occurred at … [Read more...]
MRSA Study Finds Screening Saves Money
Screening patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) produces cost savings for the entire hospital, according to a study using a statistical simulation model and that appears in next month's issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the … [Read more...]