From the time most people were children, parents and teachers stressed the importance of washing our hands. In the nearly two years since COVID-19 appeared, health officials around the world have repeated the same good advice. As we recognize National Handwashing Awareness Week, with holiday gatherings underway and COVID-19 still very active in Arizona, removing [...]
Influenza season has officially started in Arizona with the first locally-acquired case confirmed late last week. If you and your family haven't been vaccinated for influenza this season, the time is now. The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone six months and older. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent influenza, but it [...]
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 [...]
Foodborne illness has been in the news again with a norovirus outbreak striking a Chipotle restaurant and sickening over 100 Boston College students. Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach illness that can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It's pretty uncomfortable, but most people start feeling better a day or two after they [...]
Recent media has highlighted one of the most common antibiotic-resistant-bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the US, over 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and more than 23,000 people die due to these infections. Anyone can get MRSA and infections range from mild to very serious, even life-threatening. Most MRSA infections are skin [...]
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety and promotes the belief that everyone plays a role in infection prevention. As IIPW expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). In response to this important need, the Governor of [...]
Flu season started early this year with Arizona reporting the first locally acquired flu cases last week. You’ve probably seen or heard messages encouraging you to get a flu shot. That’s because it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect in your system, so we want to be sure you are protected [...]
We know washing our hands is the best way to prevent spreading germs, but a new study shows that one in ten people don’t wash their hands at all after using the bathroom. Only 5% do it right. It’s a big deal when you consider that half of the foodborne illness outbreaks happen because people either don’t wash hands or [...]
This week many of us are heading out for vacations or picnics to celebrate the nation’s birthday. And when we’re out of normal routines, we may forget basic health prevention – such as washing our hands. Even though we know that it is the best way to prevent spreading germs, a new study shows that [...]
This Spring marks 10 years since Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) arrived on the global public health scene. It started as a mystery illness in SE Asia- without name, origin, or cure in February of 2003. The CDC immediately began working with the World Health Organization to investigate the outbreak. Public health scientists across the globe [...]
