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February/March 2025 Issue Of Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

February/March 2025 Issue of Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

ON THE COVER

Healthcare job cuts fall 11.9% year over year The healthcare sector, including hospitals, healthcare providers and manufacturers of health-related products, saw a decrease in job cuts in 2024 compared to the year prior, according to one new analysis.

7 long COVID study findings to know Women and patients with multiple COVID-19 infections face an increased risk of developing long COVID, recent studies suggest.

The fastest-growing healthcare roles in 8 US cities Infusion nurses and anesthesiologists are among the fastest-growing healthcare roles in major U.S. Cities, according to a Jan. 29 LinkedIn news post.

Access tops list of Americans' healthcare concerns: 4 survey findings A quarter of Americans rank healthcare access and affordability as the top public health priority they want government leaders to focus on, according to poll findings from Gallup and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

Hospitals can scale back hand hygiene monitoring: 4 study notes Some evidence shows hospital infection preventionists may be able to spend less time monitoring hand hygiene, according to a study published Dec. 19 in the American Journal of Infection Control.

To build trust in AI, involve nurses early, leaders sayAs AI-powered platforms enter healthcare, industry leaders told Becker's that involving nurses early in AI implementation discussions can help alleviate concerns and build trust.

A group mentoring blueprint for nurses Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver is expanding its nurse group mentoring program after it helped raise the retention rate of new nurses to 97%.

The case for vaccine hesitancy questionnaires Asking patients to complete a brief vaccine hesitancy questionnaire before a checkup could help physicians quickly understand concerns and address them effectively during appointments, MIT Technology Review reported Jan. 31.

'Stop the line': How 1 Inova hospital has decreased infections Susan Carroll since 2021 has served as president of Inova Loudoun Hospital, one of only 12 in the U.S. To achieve 26 consecutive "A" grades from Leapfrog Safety Group.

Pennsylvania hospitals' maternal health 'action plan' Pennsylvania hospitals aim to tackle maternal health challenges with a new action plan from the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

The system doing root cause analysis of root cause analyses UChicago Medicine is one of 12 hospitals in the nation with a 26-year, Leapfrog straight-"A" streak and Stephen Weber, MD, said the secret is to never be satisfied.

What happens next to DEI at health systems? Many hospitals and health systems have integrated diversity, equity and inclusion into their workforce and patient care strategies.

INFECTION CONTROL

The fine line between virus, heart symptoms Virus season can prompt confusion for heart patients, as symptoms of serious cardiovascular conditions often mirror those of respiratory illnesses, according to New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System.

7 long COVID study findings to know Women and patients with multiple COVID-19 infections face an increased risk of developing long COVID, recent studies suggest.

Flu visits reach highest levels since 2009 pandemic: 7 virus updates Outpatient visits have surged to their highest levels since the peak of the 2009 swine flu pandemic, with influenza-related emergency department visits remaining very high across the U.S.

PATIENT SAFETY & OUTCOMES

CDC panel backs proposed mask guidanceA CDC advisory committee convened last week to revisit the agency's draft infection control guidelines for healthcare facilities, voting in favor of recommendations that remain largely unchanged despite ongoing criticism.

CDC restores some purged healthcare files The CDC has begun restoring some of the files it had recently purged from its website, following some criticism from the medical community and the public, The New York Times reported Feb. 3.

Kaiser, Tufts lead network to promote food's medicinal benefits Boston-based Tufts University and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente have partnered to form the Food Is Medicine National Network of Excellence, a national network focused on addressing food insecurity and improving community health.

PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE

What happens next to DEI at health systems? Many hospitals and health systems have integrated diversity, equity and inclusion into their workforce and patient care strategies.

NCLEX pass rates slightly improve In 2024, 73.26% of registered nurses who took the National Council Licensure Examination passed the test — a slight increase from 2023's average of 69.66%.

3 in 5 healthcare workers skeptical of AI's role in career growth: Survey Healthcare workers were the least likely to agree that artificial intelligence skills are necessary for career advancement, according to a Jan. 30 LinkedIn News post.

What unlimited PTO needs to succeed Unlimited paid time off is becoming more common at U.S. Organizations, but its benefits for employees depend largely on workplace culture, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 22.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & MEASUREMENT

Understaffing at HCA Mission led to harmful medication errors: Report Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital has lacked adequate pharmacy staffing for years, resulting in harmful medication errors, according to the Asheville Watchdog.

NURSING SPOTLIGHT

UConn nursing program gets $50M gift Mansfield-based University of Connecticut School of Nursing received $50 million — the largest gift in the school's history — from an alumna.

A group mentoring blueprint for nurses Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver is expanding its nurse group mentoring program after it helped raise the retention rate of new nurses to 97%.

Nurse staffing lags at hospitals with more Black patients: Study A recent study led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia found that nurse staffing rates are worse in hospitals with the highest percentage of Black patients.

Florida System Sees 2,200% Rise In C. Auris Infections Since 2019

In a retrospective study, researchers found a 2,200% increase in clinical Candida auris infections at Miami-based Jackson Health System between 2019 and 2022.

The findings correspond with national trends. In 2016, the CDC reported 51 clinical C. Auris cases, and by 2024 that number rose to 4,514.

At Jackson Health System, researchers identified 327 clinical cultures among 231 patients, according to findings published March 17 in the American Journal of Infection Control. The number of clinical C. Auris cases increased each year, with five identified in 2019, 29 in 2020, 71 in 2021, 107 in 2022 and 115 in 2023.

An increase from five in 2019 to 115 in 2023 represents a sevenfold increase, the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy reported. Hospital-onset C. Auris infections accounted for 79.5% of cases.

The most common source was blood cultures, but the study showed a large increase in bone and soft tissue infections in 2022 and 2023. The CDC defines the fungal infection as an urgent public health threat due to its resistance to multiple antifungal treatments and ability to spread quickly in healthcare facilities. Learn more here.

Veterinary Infection Preventionists: Who Are They?

Danielle Banks, BSc (Hons), RVN, GradDipVN, discusses the growing importance of infection prevention in animal care, tackling antimicrobial resistance, hand hygiene, and adapting human health care protocols.

This article was originally published by Infection Control Today, a sister publication of dvm360.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a critical part of health care, and veterinary medicine is no exception. Danielle Banks, BSc (Hons) RVN GradDipVN, is a registered veterinary nurse for Davies Veterinary Specialists, based in the north of London, England, in Hitchin Hertfordshire.

She is at the forefront of advancing IPC in animal care. With over 20 years of experience, Banks has dedicated her career to improving infection control protocols in veterinary hospitals, which traditionally lag behind human health care.

Recently, Banks sat down with Infection Control Today® (ICT®) to discuss her role and its importance, not only with animals, but with the broader One Health initiative.

Banks explains that veterinary IPC is a relatively new field, but it is gaining traction due to the growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance and the One Health approach—recognizing the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. While hospitals and clinics in human medicine have well-established IPC protocols, veterinary practices must often adapt research and guidelines from human health care to fit their unique settings.

"My role as an IP veterinary nurse is really rare. I'm fortunate to have this role. So, within the veterinary group, I certainly work for most clinics. Rather than having a dedicated IP nurse, we would have infection control representatives. So they're effectively, there's someone who champions IP within their clinic, and that might be a lead nurse or a clinician who has that additional responsibility on top of their existing role. They're championing hand hygiene. They will be the ones to help inspire and create that necessary positive culture around hand hygiene. They will be doing the training, the education piece, those compliance checks, and, of course, those gentle reminders, which are important."

Bank continues, "The other thing that I see certainly is that that leadership and management support, that that's right, vital, so that you know staff on the clinic floor can see leaders practicing that hand hygiene so then others follow, and it embeds IP and hand hygiene as part of patient and staff safety."

A typical day for Banks involves staff training, policy development, environmental cleaning oversight, patient placement, and monitoring infection rates. She also works on outbreak management and collaborates with public health officials when necessary. Banks helps shape IPC strategies across multiple veterinary clinics as part of a UK-wide veterinary group, ensuring standardized best practices.

One major challenge in veterinary IPC is antimicrobial resistance. Banks emphasizes the importance of educating pet owners about responsible antibiotic use and the risks of overprescribing. She also highlights the need for improved hand hygiene adherence, an issue that parallels human health care settings.

Banks envisions a future where veterinary IPC is more structured, with dedicated training courses and professional networks similar to human healthcare. With increasing awareness and collaboration, veterinary infection control will continue to evolve, benefiting both animal and human health.

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