GAO Report: Improving Infection Prevention and Control in Nursing Homes

COVID-19 in Nursing Homes :Experts Identified Actions Aimed at Improving Infection Prevention and Control Highlights What GAO Found The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), primarily through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has led the federal response to …

Increasing Threat of Spread of Antimicrobial-Resistant Fungus in Healthcare Facilities

Candida auris (C. auris), an emerging fungus considered an urgent antimicrobial resistance (AR) threat, spread at an alarming rate in U.S. healthcare facilities in 2020-2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Equally concerning was a tripling in …

TB is Still Here – New CDC Data Show U.S. Cases Increased Again in 2022

Tuberculosis — United States, 2022 Weekly / March 24, 2023 / 72(12);297–303 Kimberly R. Schildknecht, MPH1,2; Robert H. Pratt2; Pei-Jean I. Feng, MPH2; Sandy F. Price2; Julie L. Self, PhD2 (VIEW AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS) Summary What is already known about this topic? During the early COVID-19 pandemic (2020), U.S. incidence of reported tuberculosis …

Achieving Strong Resident Quality of Life Starts With Better Staff Management

Quality of life is a “fundamental principle” that feeds into—and flows from—all resident care and services, according to 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §483.24. The F-tag 675 surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual offers insights on the definition of quality of life and what it …

TIP: Telligen QI Connect Releases a Facilitators Guide to Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), Telligen QI Connect, has developed a new facilitators guide to assist with root cause analysis (RCA). This guide outlines the process to conduct an RCA including steps to prepare and how to conduct an RCA meeting.  For permission to use or reproduce this tip in …

Q&A: Can an LVN who is a certified treatment nurse stage a pressure injury?

Question: Can an LVN who is a certified treatment nurse stage a pressure injury? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: Many states do not allow LVNs to stage pressure injuries. I recommend you review your state’s nurse practice act or contact your state’s board of nursing to see if staging …

invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) News From CDC

During fall 2022, a resurgence of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection in children and adolescents was observed in two of CDC’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP)* surveillance sites: Colorado (Denver metropolitan area) and Minnesota (entire state). Clinicians should consider iGAS as a possible cause of severe illness in children, adolescents, and adults, particularly …

Why It Is Important to Have Staff Represented at the AAPACN 2023 Conference?

The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) will host the annual conference this year April 19 – 21 in Las Vegas, NV. Long-term and post-acute care professionals from across the nation will gather to learn the latest updates, embark on new certifications or recertifications, develop new action plans for …

NETEC Long-Term Care Special Pathogens Infection Prevention and Control Workbook Available

The National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC) has released a workbook for “assessing operational elements for special pathogen preparedness, response, and recovery unique to the long-term care setting.” The workbook is designed to help nurse leaders address the following issues, according to a letter from NETEC: Request …

Person-Centered Fall Prevention Interventions: Beyond Rehab Screen and 15-Minute Checks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites falls as the leading cause of injury-related death in adults aged 65 and older (CDC, 2023). It is imperative that nursing facility staff identify fall risk in their residents and care plan accordingly. A fall risk assessment can help to identify …