Excellence in Patient Care

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking an outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across several countries that don’t normally report monkeypox, including the United States. The CDC is urging healthcare providers to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox. For more information, including signs and symptoms, please refer to the links below.

Looking for COVID-19 Resources? Visit the COVID-19 resource portal, featuring CMS updates, CDC information, ASN resources, publications and journal articles, and the assembled COVID-19 library.

This webinar provides an overview of the importance of identifying and tracking possible Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) in the outpatient dialysis setting, as well as suggestions for decreasing potential transmission of CDI within the dialysis facility.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has released an update to The Infection Prevention and Control in Dialysis Settings (2022). This guideline includes the fundamentals for understanding kidney disease, standard and transmission-based precautions, and best practices for keeping hemodialysis patients safe from infection. The guide includes information on peritoneal dialysis, home dialysis, special population and emergency preparedness for dialysis settings.

Preventing infections is essential for patient safety. Facilities are encouraged to place this poster, tracking the days that have passed since the last bloodstream infection (BSI), in areas visible to patients, family members, and staff to raise awareness about infections. The poster can also be used to start discussions and provide education about the importance of preventing BSIs with patients and family members.