DICON provides sophisticated data analysis and metrics, access to experts in infection control, opportunities to share successful programs, and extensive educational initiatives related to infection prevention.
On May 17, 2019 the Centers for Disease Control and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association published new recommendations on screening, testing, and treatment of tuberculosis in the U.S. The full publication can be found on the CDC website, or downloaded here.
Bacterial community composition and presence of antibiotic resistance genes (mecA, tetK, and vanA) on personal mobile devices (PMDs) of nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) were evaluated. Antibiotic resistance genes on PMDs decreased at the end of the shift, and a several microbial genera changed.
DICON physician, Dr. Deverick Anderson, worked with the ICU staff at Duke University Medical Center. Recruitment of 32 total volunteers was performed at a surgical ICU (SICU) and a medical ICU (MICU). In total, 31 volunteers completed the study.
The first two WellStar Health System hospitals, WellStar Kennestone Hospital and WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, joined the DICON family in September 2017. After a little over a year, in December 2018, three more (WellStar Douglas Hospital, WellStar Paulding Medical Center, and WellStar West Georgia Medical Center) of the WellStar Health System Hospitals joined our family.
Now, we are proud to announce that the rest of the WellStar Health System hospitals have joined DICON! To see the full list of all eleven WellStar Health System hospitals, head over to the Georgia section of our DICON Members page.
A cross-sectional survey of hospital epidemiologists and infection preventionist members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) was performed to ascertain opinions regarding etiology and preventability of hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia (HOB), and perspecitives on HOB as a potential outcome measure reflecting the quality of infection prevention and hospital care. DICON physician, Dr. Deverick Anderson, was a contributing author on this project.
A total of 89 surveys were completed. Among the majority of the respondants, HOB is percieved as preventable, reflective of quality of care, and potentially acceptable as a publicly reported quality metric.
During the past 18 years DICON has provided epidemiological data and support to more than 40 hospitals in 6 states while simultaneously learning a great deal about the challenges and opportunities for infection prevention in community hospitals.
DICON has been a long-term and valuable partner with my hospitals and me in our joint efforts to prevent hospital-acquired infections and improve patient safety.
