UNITED STATES: Infections Prompt US Study

[Guest guest]

CDC 12/16/08

UNITED STATES: " Infections Prompt US Study "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (12.12.08):: Annette Wells

Prompted in part by the hepatitis C outbreak at a Las Vegas endoscopy center,

Congress is calling for a nationwide study examining what role ambulatory

surgery centers play in the spread of health care-related infections.

The study, now in the planning stages, will be conducted by the Government

Accountability Office. It is expected to be completed by February. In addition

to looking into how many infections occur in outpatient facilities, the study

will determine whether the centers are following appropriate infection-control

procedures, said Bascetta, GAO's director of health care.

" There have been situations across the country that have raised concerns about

the problems in those health care settings, " said Bascetta.

" One of the problems is that people aren't admitted into ambulatory surgery

centers, so it is much harder to figure out what the source of an infection is

if that person is being treated elsewhere, " Bascetta noted.

CDC, which performs surveillance of disease outbreaks, and the Centers for

Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates ambulatory surgery centers and

monitors their infection-control practices, will collect data for the study.

The hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas has led to several changes to

infection-control policies and prompted several health care studies, said Larry

Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association.

According to CDC, an estimated 6 million medical procedures are performed

annually in non-hospital settings, where infection-control resources are often

limited compared to those in hospitals. And the number is growing.

" I do believe that there will be significant long-range benefits to the nation's

health care resulting from the positive response to the Las Vegas outbreak,

although the price has been high for patients who should not have been placed at

risk and for the lost confidence in the health care system, " said Matheis.

[Guest guest]

CDC 12/16/08

UNITED STATES: " Infections Prompt US Study "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (12.12.08):: Annette Wells

Prompted in part by the hepatitis C outbreak at a Las Vegas endoscopy center,

Congress is calling for a nationwide study examining what role ambulatory

surgery centers play in the spread of health care-related infections.

The study, now in the planning stages, will be conducted by the Government

Accountability Office. It is expected to be completed by February. In addition

to looking into how many infections occur in outpatient facilities, the study

will determine whether the centers are following appropriate infection-control

procedures, said Bascetta, GAO's director of health care.

" There have been situations across the country that have raised concerns about

the problems in those health care settings, " said Bascetta.

" One of the problems is that people aren't admitted into ambulatory surgery

centers, so it is much harder to figure out what the source of an infection is

if that person is being treated elsewhere, " Bascetta noted.

CDC, which performs surveillance of disease outbreaks, and the Centers for

Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates ambulatory surgery centers and

monitors their infection-control practices, will collect data for the study.

The hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas has led to several changes to

infection-control policies and prompted several health care studies, said Larry

Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association.

According to CDC, an estimated 6 million medical procedures are performed

annually in non-hospital settings, where infection-control resources are often

limited compared to those in hospitals. And the number is growing.

" I do believe that there will be significant long-range benefits to the nation's

health care resulting from the positive response to the Las Vegas outbreak,

although the price has been high for patients who should not have been placed at

risk and for the lost confidence in the health care system, " said Matheis.