New Study: Outbreak of Rare Bacteria in Outpatient Cancer Clinic Tied to Lapse in Infection Control Procedure

New Study: Outbreak of Rare Bacteria in Outpatient Cancer Clinic Tied to Lapse in Infection Control Procedure

New Study: Outbreak of Rare Bacteria in Outpatient Cancer Clinic Tied to Lapse in Infection Control Procedure

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent this bulletin at 02/14/2014 10:23 AM EST

A recent study published in the March issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, details lapses in infection control in an outpatient oncology clinic.  The lapses resulted in the first ever outbreak of Tsukamurella spp., a Gram-positive bacteria that rarely causes disease in humans.  Read the press release from the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

This type of outbreak highlights the critical need for increased attention to and oversight of infection control in outpatient oncology settings. To help outpatient oncology facilities prevent these types of outbreaks and establish appropriate infection control strategies, CDC developed the following resources as part of itsPreventing Infections in Cancer Patients program:

• A Basic Infection Control and Prevention Plan for Outpatient Oncology Settings. This plan is tailored to these settings outlining key policies and procedures needed to meet minimal requirements for patient safety.  Outpatient oncology facilities without an existing plan are encouraged to use this document as a starting point.
   
• Web site for cancer patients and caregivers:PreventCancerInfections.org. This site features an evidence-based, interactive online program designed to help assess a cancer patient’s risk for developing both a low white blood cell count during chemotherapy and subsequent infections. The web site also features a variety of educational resources, including health tip sheets on a variety of topics.
   
• Educational materials for patients, caregivers, and doctors including posters, brochures, and videos.