Publications by authors named "Sarah Elizabeth Totten"
Accurate reporting of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is a critical function of infection prevention and control (IPC) teams. Validation was performed to increase inter-rater reliability in HAI adjudication among infection preventionists. Benefits included improved data integrity, enhanced team performance, and individual growth.
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- Mitigation behaviors are crucial in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and this study examined behaviors linked to secondary transmission within households of confirmed cases.
- In California and Colorado, researchers conducted interviews from January to April 2021, gathering data on self-reported behaviors, individual demographics, and household characteristics related to infection transmission.
- Results indicated that 43.3% of household contacts became infected; key risk factors included sleeping in the same bedroom and eating food prepared by the infected individual, with household size and relationship type influencing these behaviors.
Article Synopsis
- A January-April 2021 study analyzed surface samples from 124 households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, finding 27.8% of the samples were positive for the virus using RT-PCR testing.
- Nightstands and pillows were the surfaces most frequently contaminated with the virus.
- Despite the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces, viable virus was detected in only 0.2% of samples, indicating that the risk of transmission via surfaces in households is low.
Article Synopsis
- * During this period, 79 COVID-19 cases were reported among the responders, leading to 273 quarantines, prompting public health investigations and coordination with wildfire management teams to limit the outbreak.
- * Analysis of the outbreak revealed eight different COVID-19 strains and identified transmission pathways within and between responder crews, suggesting the need for measures like symptom screening, education on COVID-19 and smoke inhalation symptoms, better crew distancing, and vaccinations.