ASHES presents Phoenix and Lifetime Achievement Award
Infection Control Today
The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES), of the American Hospital Association, presented the Phoenix Award, ASHES’ highest honor, to Brett Higgins, CHESP. Also presented was the Lifetime Achievement Award to Graham Emery, president and owner of West Sanitation Aerowest. More

A hospital hand-washing project to save lives and money
The New York Times
While President Obama deals with the big picture, the chief hospital accrediting agency is turning its attention to what should be the most mundane of details: persuading health care workers to wash their hands. More

Delaware hospitals adopt wristband color standard
AHA News Now
Delaware hospitals have adopted a voluntary standard for the color-coded wristbands used to convey critical patient information to health care workers. Red wristbands will be used for patient allergies, yellow for fall risk and purple for patients’ do-not-resuscitate preferences. More

Keeping antibiotic makers one step ahead of germs
Medical News Today
Rice University biochemists are developing a system of "evolutionary forecasting" to better understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. More

AHA urges changes to H1N1 infection control guidance
AHA News Now
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OSHA issues final rule updating PPE standards
NRCA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced in the Sept. 9 Federal Register a final rule revising the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring and marine terminals standards regarding requirements for eye- and face-protective devices, as well as head and foot protection. More

Poll shows most Americans lacking direction from their employers for the H1N1 flu season
Infection Control Today
Most workers have not had any direction from their employers about the upcoming flu season, according to a national survey released by Mansfield Communications Inc. In the survey of a national representative sample, 69 percent of respondents say they have received no communication about policies in the workplace pertaining to H1N1 -- not even information related to handwashing or sick leave. More