What's New

Important Updates in June NHSN eNewsletter

Read about important NHSN updates in the June NHSN eNewslettter. Updates include changes to CMS Quality Reporting Programs, updates to the NHSN Operative Procedure Code documents, new educational material for the Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module, and registration information for the Long-Term Care Facility Component annual training.
Joint Commission Revises Antimicrobial Stewardship Requirements for Ambulatory Care

Effective January 1, 2020, new antimicrobial stewardship requirements will be applicable to Joint Commission-accredited ambulatory healthcare organizations that routinely prescribe antimicrobial medications. Read The Joint Commission R³Report 23.
Infusion Options Recalls All Sterile Products

The FDA announced that Infusion Options Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots of all sterile products within expiry to the hospital level. These products are being recalled due to a lack of assurance of sterility. Read the FDA safety alert.
Premier Pharmacy Labs Recalls all Sterile Drugs

The FDA announced that Premier Pharmacy Labs is voluntarily recalling all unexpired products, intended to be sterile, due to a lack of sterility assurance. The latest FDA inspection raised concerns about including insufficient environmental controls, potential cross contamination and lack of product specific process validations at the compounding facility. Read the FDA safety alert.
FDA Increases Safety Requirements for FMT

The FDA is directing healthcare providers to conduct donor screening and MDRO testing of donor stool to protect patients from transmission of life-threatening infections from use of fecal microbiota for transplantation (FMT). Read the FDA safety alert.
Nationwide Shortage of Tuberculin Skin Test Antigens

The CDC is expecting a three to ten month nationwide shortage of APLISOL®, a product of Par Pharmaceuticals. APLISOL® is one of two purified-protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin antigens that are licensed by the FDA for use in performing tuberculin skin tests. The manufacturer notified CDC that they anticipate a supply interruption of APLISOL® 5 mL (50 tests) beginning in June 2019, followed by a supply interruption of APLISOL® 1 mL (10 tests) in November 2019. Read more.
FDA Approves New Treatment for Bacterial Pneumonia

The FDA approved a new indication for the previously approved drug, Zerbaxa (ceftolozane and tazobactam) for the treatment of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) in patients 18 years and older. Read more.
Finding Your Voice: Advocating for IPC

APIC 2019 Annual Conference
Wednesday, June 12 – 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 108B
EPA Allows Expanded Use of Antibiotics for Agriculture

Ignoring warnings from the CDC and FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved expanded use of streptomycin and oxytetracycline for the spraying of citrus crops. The approval will allow for up to 650,000 pounds of streptomycin to be used annually in agriculture, whereas humans in the US currently use 14,000 pounds of the antibiotic each year. Read more.
Beckman Coulter Recalls Hematology Analyzers

The FDA is alerting hospitals, laboratories, and providers of a Class 1 recall of Beckman Coulter DxH 800, DxH 600 and DxH 900 hematology analyzers. Device users have reported inaccurate blood platelet counts, which could result in misdiagnosis of diseases and conditions such as anemia, infections, blood clotting problems, blood cancers, and immune system disorders. Read more.

Urge CMS to take action on Antibiotic Stewardship

Although infection control was elevated to a Medicare Condition of Participation (CoP) in 1986, it has essentially been unchanged for more than 30 years. Urge CMS to finalize the proposed revisions to Medicare hospital CoPs.
Show your support for vaccines

As demonstrated by the multiple measles outbreaks around the country, misinformation about vaccines is becoming a major issue. Contact your member of the House of Representatives and tell them to support House Resolution 179.
Protect Healthcare Funding

The federal budget process is in full swing. The President has requested a $12 billion cut to HHS funding and the House of Representatives has requested a small increase. Will you have your voice heard?