PICNet presentations at IPAC-Canada Conference
Bruce, Guanghong, and Helen presented at this year's IPAC-Canada conference; you can download their slides via the links below. Bruce Gamage: Getting the (Red) Dirt Out: A Review of BC's Environmental Cleaning Guidelines Guanghong Han: The impact of vancomycin-resistant enterococi (VRE) policy and practice change in British Columbia Helen Evans (on behalf of the BC Hand Hygiene Communications Group): Many Hands Make Light Work: A Year of Hand Hygiene Campaigns (The campaign materials...
PICNet staff at IPAC-Canada Conference
All PICNet staff will be away from the office June 19-23. For any urgent infection control issues, you can contact Linda Hoang, PICNet Co-Medical Lead, at Linda.Hoang@bccdc.ca. Any media-related enquiries should be directed to the PHSA Media Pager at 778-867-7472. Bruce and Guanghong will be back in the office on June 26, and Joanne, Helen, and Romi on June 27....
Antibiotics animated video from Health Education England
A clever video on antimicrobial resistance from Health Education England: Thanks to Reflections on Infection Prevention and Control for sharing this....
BCPSQC Quality Awards: Nominate People and Projects That Made Health Care Better!
Did your project improve how health care is delivered? Orr do you know somebody whose contributions to quality of care deserve recognition? Nominations are now being accepted for the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council’s 2018 Quality Awards. Categories celebrate projects within the four areas of care, as well as four inspiring people. The deadline to submit nominations is June 30, 2017. Judging criteria and nomination forms are available at www.bcpsqc.ca/quality-awards. Categories Staying Healthy –...
CIPHI Conference: Call for Abstracts
Do you have ideas to share about current and emerging environmental public health issues? An innovative way to safeguard public health? Submit your abstract today and connect with environmental public health professionals from all across Canada! Share your educational content on topics related to: Air Quality Built Environment Communicable Disease & Infection Control Drinking Water Emergency Preparedness & Response Food Safety Indigenous Populations Personal Services Pest Management Recreational Water Download the abstract submission form (PDF). Deadline for abstract submission: June 9, 2017 About...
Three African countries chosen to test first malaria vaccine
Three African countries have been chosen to test the world's first malaria vaccine, the World Health Organization announced Monday. Ghana, Kenya and Malawi will begin piloting the injectable vaccine next year with hundreds of thousands of young children, who have been at highest risk of death. The vaccine, which has partial effectiveness, has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives if used with existing measures, the WHO regional director...
Comparison of VRE infection rates in Ontario hospitals
This paper was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on April 4, 2017 (vol.5 no.2 E273-E280) Abstract Background: Some Ontario hospitals have discontinued active screening and isolation programs for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). The aim of this study was to determine whether this practice change is associated with a change in the rate of rise of VRE-positive blood cultures. Methods: All Ontario hospitals are mandated to report VRE bacteremia. Using this publicly...