Unplanned Extubations in the ICU Put Patients and Providers at Risk

ICU admissions in hospitals across the US have skyrocketed amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Recent reports indicate that severe hypoxic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation is the most common reason a COVID-19 patient is admitted to the ICU.1 While projections have varied widely, worst-case scenario estimates by the American Hospital Association cite a potential impact…

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Stories from the Community Meet Swapna Kakani: Short Bowel Syndrome Warrior

Swapna Kakani was diagnosed at birth with a rare chronic disease, Short Bowel Syndrome. For 27 years, Swapna has lived with supplemental intravenous nutrition and a feeding tube (from 0-24 she had a gastrostomy tube and from 24 onwards she has had an ileostomy). She has undergone several surgeries at multiple hospitals throughout the United…

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Stories from the Community Meet Isabelle Edwards: Type 2 Diabetes & Gastroperisis Warrior

Isabelle Edwards is known across the internet as the Diabetes Diva, and if you ever have the privilege of meeting her, you will understand why! Isabelle lives with Type 2 Diabetes, but her enthusiasm for life, her kindness, and her glamour are what you remember after spending time with her. She is a fierce advocate…

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Stories from the Community Meet Emily Levy: Lyme disease, POTS, CIDP, and Hashimoto’s Warrior

When Emily Levy was a sophomore in college, she was diagnosed with neurological Lyme disease and required a PICC to facilitate her treatment. This PICC was the first of many vascular access devices Emily has depended on and, unfortunately, Lyme was only the first of many diagnoses to come. Despite facing long term illness and…

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3 Questions with Gwen Borlaug MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Our newest edition of 3 Questions With… 3 Questions With… features some of the finest thought leaders in healthcare specialties such as Infection Prevention, Vascular Access, Surgical Care and more. These experts answer questions on the latest insights, evidence and current practices. For our newest 3 Questions With… Eloquest Healthcare is proud to feature Gwen…

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The Neglected Catheter: Peripheral Vascular Access Device‐Related Infection: Clinical and Legal Perspectives

“Up to 90% of hospitalized patients can require a PVAD during their stay, however, greater than 60% of PVADs fail due to dislodgement, phlebitis, occlusion, infiltration, or infection.”¹ PVAD infections are so prevalent that the topic “Infections from Peripherally Inserted IV Lines” became number 9 in the ECRI Institute’s 2019 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns.…

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Does a Patient’s Socioeconomic Status Influence Their Risk for SSI?

The access to, use of, and quality of health care can vary based on socioeconomic status, which can be measured by income, education, and/or occupation.1,2 Socioeconomic factors can be associated with various health outcomes, one of them being surgical site infection (SSI) which affects up to 5% of surgical procedures nationwide.3 However, the association between…

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