How to Know If an N95 Respirator is Real or Counterfeit

  |  March 26, 2020

As the supply of N95 respirators for healthcare workers continues to dwindle, a number of counterfeit or uncertified respirators are beginning to surface in the marketplace. If a hospital is struggling to maintain its supply of N95 respirators, there are other options that can be used in place of the standard N95 respirator. The Centers...
Read More

Reusable Elastomeric Respirators: Proper Use by Healthcare Workers

  |  March 26, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of patients to urgent care, emergency room and drive- up testing locations. Healthcare workers depend upon N95 disposable respirators to protect them from exposure to the respiratory droplets that transmit the disease. The supply of N95 respirators is being rapidly depleted as the crisis prolongs. Fabric facemasks...
Read More

Hospital-acquired Fungal Infections: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Patients

  |  February 26, 2020

Over the past year, several reported instances of patient infections related to mold have escalated concerns within the healthcare community. Understanding how these infections can occur, and what your hospital can do to prevent them, is essential for patient safety and hospital reputation.   What are hospital-acquired fungal infections? True to their name, hospital-acquired fungal...
Read More

Getting Ready for USP 800: What Your Hospital Pharmacy Needs to Know

  |  December 10, 2019

While regulations for sterile compounding have been around for decades, many hospital pharmacies around the country have been racing to meet compliance with the new USP 800. Unlike the current standards set by USP 797, which are generally designed to protect the product, USP 800 aims to regulate employee protection. It provides requirements for healthcare...
Read More

Sterile Drug Compounding Contamination: What Facility Managers Need to Know and How to Maintain Compliance

  |  December 2, 2019

The most widely publicized sterile drug compound contamination outbreak was traced back to the New England Compounding Center in 2012. This outbreak led to more than 800 cases and 64 deaths. The direct cause of these infections was fungal contamination of methylprednisolone that led to the development of fungal meningitis. Perhaps the most shocking detail...
Read More

Dead Legs in Water Systems Can Lead to Live Legionella: A Cost-prevention Feature Can Create Difficulties in Hospitals and Other Building Types

  |  August 19, 2019

Design engineers and building owners should take notice: small features intended to prevent headaches down the line could be increasing their risk of waterborne infections. Many building systems are designed to allow for future expansion, which can lead to “dead legs” in domestic plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This extra piping...
Read More