Safe Healthcare Blog

Hosted by CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. If you have questions or comments about healthcare safety topics, please contact CDC-INFO at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form.

Denise Cardo, MD, retires after 30 years dedicated to patient safety

Dr. Denise Cardo

As part of Public Health Thank You Day, celebrated every year on the Monday before Thanksgiving, we’d like to honor Denise Cardo, MD, who recently retired from public service after 30 years dedicated to patient safety. Denise leaves a legacy of protecting the United States and the globe from some of our most challenging and Read More >

Posted on by Katy Capers, MA, & Kendra Driver, PhD3 Comments
Categories Patient Stories and Patient Safety
Tags

Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Argentina: Legislation for the Future

Pictured left to right: Analía Mykietiuk (President of the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases , Carla Vizzotti (Minister of Health), Rachel Smith (CDC), and Laura Barcelona (Director, CoNaCRA)

Argentina’s Ministry of Health is implementing the first legislation in South America using a One Health framework to combat antimicrobial resistance (AR), representing Argentina’s commitment to combating AR. Argentina is also participating in CDC’s Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN) to strengthen the capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to AR. History and Development of Read More >

Posted on by Guest Authors: Laura Barcelona, Lauren Dempsey, Rachel Smith
Categories Advancing Global Healthcare Safety
Tags , ,

Healthcare Worker Vaccination is Important for Respiratory Virus Season

Healthcare worker rolls up her sleeve to show off bandaid after getting vaccinations

Respiratory virus season is here. As a healthcare worker, you play a critical role in slowing and preventing the spread of viral respiratory infections, including flu and COVID-19. Like hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), and environmental cleaning and disinfection, vaccination is a critical tool in our infection control toolbox. Getting recommended vaccines in combination Read More >

Posted on by Janet Glowicz, PhD, RN, Infection Preventionist with Project Firstline in CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion2 Comments
Categories Uncategorized
Tags ,

In case you missed it: November HICPAC Public Meeting recap

healthcare worker in a medical facility using touchless hand sanitizer

The Healthcare Infection Control Advisory Committee (HICPAC) held a public meeting Nov. 2-3, in Atlanta, Ga. Per the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and as has been done throughout the HICPAC meetings, official meeting minutes will be available on the HICPAC website in the coming weeks. Until then, below is a summary of key issues from Read More >

Posted on by Mike Bell and Alex Kallen2 Comments
Categories Uncategorized
Tags

Antibiotic Stewardship when an Allergy Label is Present Improves Our Antibiotic Care and Treatment Outcomes

Did You Know? Although 10% of the population in the U.S. reports a penicillin allergy, less than 1% of the population is truly penicillin allergic. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are often used as an alternative to penicillins. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in patients labeled “penicillin-allergic” is associated with higher healthcare costs, increased risk for antimicrobial resistance, Read More >

Posted on by Guest Author: Cosby Stone, Jr. MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonology, and Critical Care Medicine within the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center2 Comments
Categories Medication Safety
Tags , , , , ,