Clostridium difficile

Environmental Cleaning Helps Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections

By |2017-02-10T09:49:02-07:00January 7th, 2016|Preparedness|

There’s a saying in the healthcare profession that “one good housekeeper can prevent more infections than a dozen doctors can cure.” Environmental cleaning is critical to prevent healthcare-associated infections. In healthcare settings, germs are present throughout the environment, many of which cause infections. Contaminated surfaces play a vital role in the transmission of dangerous [...]

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Guess the Culprit

By |2017-02-10T09:51:15-07:00March 12th, 2012|Prevention|

Guess which organism killed 14,000 people last year- quadrupling in number in the last 10 years, and costing $1B extra in health care.  Almost all the cases happen among people who recently received medical care.  Ironically, antibiotics are making the problem worse, because when a person takes antibiotics, good germs that protect against infection are [...]

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Another Tool for our Laboratory Toolbox

By |2011-08-09T09:30:01-07:00August 9th, 2011|Preparedness|

New testing equipment at the state lab is going to help us with flu tracking this fall and dramatically speed up testing for Tuberculosis.  The instrument called the Gene Xpert looks for DNA mutations – we can tell if a TB case is resistant to certain antibiotics.  For instance, on specific mutation is a marker for rifampin [...]

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Infection Prevention in AZ

By |2017-02-10T09:52:04-07:00October 22nd, 2010|Uncategorized|

Healthcare-associated infections claim more lives in Arizona every year than auto accidents or influenza.  Surprised?  That’s why the Governor issued a proclamation making this week as Infection Prevention week in Arizona- providing us with an opportunity to call attention to one of the CDC’s Winnable Battles-  defeating Healthcare-Associated Infections.  We had a news conference (along with [...]

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Clostridium difficile

By |2017-02-10T09:52:19-07:00April 28th, 2010|Licensing, Preparedness, Prevention|

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has discovered a pretty significant outbreak of a bacteria called Clostridium difficile this week.  This organism can cause severe diarrheal illness, and is commonly associated with antibiotic use and healthcare facilities.  Most people who come into contact with Clostridium difficile do not develop disease.  Being on long-term antibiotics [...]

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