Nurses union to FDA: Mask decontamination never should have been OK’d
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 29, 2021
The reuse of N95 respirators and other single-use PPE is unsafe, according to the lead hygienist of National Nurses United. The union is heartened by President Joe Biden’s promise to use the Defense...
FDA limits N95 respirator reuse to four times with PPE decontamination systems
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2021
The agency last week reissued emergency use authorizations to some manufacturers, allowing compatible N95 respirators to be decontaminated a maximum of four times only.
Clinical briefs for Monday, Jan. 25
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2021
Study confirms that gastrointestinal surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes … COVID-19 virus triggers antibodies from previous coronavirus infections … British prime minister: ‘Some evidence’ UK virus...
Supplied with PPE, care providers are less exposed to COVID at work than in community, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 11, 2020
The results suggest that PPE is highly effective in acute exposures to SARS-CoV-2, but certain tasks may still be hazardous, investigators say.
Facility PPE reuse at crisis level, infection preventionists say
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 04, 2020
Fully three quarters of survey respondents say that their healthcare facilities have implemented crisis standards of care for personal protective equipment. The reuse rate is “disheartening,”...
Avoid ‘over-reliance’ on respirators, OSHA urges LTC operators in new guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 05, 2020
The agency has issued new respiratory protection guidance for long-term care industry workers with the goal of preserving supplies of N95 face masks.
Clinical briefs for Monday, Nov. 2
Nov 01, 2020
State stockpiling orders hurting nursing homes on PPE quest … Aspirin use best for those with high coronary calcium, low risk of bleeding … Myocarditis linked to COVID-19 not as common as believed:...
Opt-in COVID vaccine program kicks off; Feds partner with CVS, Walgreens
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
Long-term care facilities nationwide can voluntarily opt in to a free pharmacy partnership program that will provide and administer future COVID-19 vaccines on site, federal officials announced Friday.
Nurses ask feds to invoke Defense Production Act for N95 masks; survey finds ‘unacceptable’ reuse...
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 04, 2020
One in three nurses remain short on supplies, an ANA survey has found. “Re-use and decontamination of single-use PPE as the ‘new normal’ is unacceptable, given the lack of standards and evidence...
PPE, staff shortages unchanged: CMS data show 1 in 5 facilities ‘severely’ affected
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 24, 2020
There were notable clusters of equipment shortfalls in certain states. A quarter of U.S. counties had at least 44% of nursing homes reporting low staffing levels.