Hospitals are second only to food service buildings for energy use per square foot in the commercial sector, due to their around-the-clock demand and use of specialized, energy-intensive equipment, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. An annual survey conducted by the consultancy Grumman/Butkus Associates released last month found participating hospitals paid an average of…

Paramedics have a “remarkably low” rate of compliance with hand hygiene standards, which could put patients at risk for deadly infections, according to a new report. For the study, researchers observed 77 paramedics in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Australia as they dealt with 87 patients. The paramedics’ compliance with basic hygiene was high: short, clean…

Hospital germ detectives say the sinks next to toilets in patient rooms may harbor potentially dangerous bacteria. Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin checked a large Wisconsin hospital forKlebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase. KPC is a type of bacteria that can cause health care-associated infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound infections or surgical site infections.…

When it’s finally time to store away your winter coats and boots, it’s also a good time to rid your home of the allergens that accumulated over the winter, an allergist suggests. “If you aren’t someone who regularly undertakes spring cleaning, consider tackling it this year,” said Dr. Todd Mahr, president of the American College…

ONE MINUTE You can find a minute while you wait for coffee to brew, or your shower to get hot.Throw away a few pieces of trash. Wipe down a counter or surface. Make the bed. TWO MINUTES You can find two minutes while you let the dog outside (in your fenced yard, of course!)Sweep/swiffer the…

This week sees the second of 2, apparently conflicting publications, one saying that having domestic pets is good because it reduces the risks of allergy – the other warning that they pose an infection risk. The studies show how important it is to keep new research findings in perspective. Having pets in our home may…

A new study quantifies the impact of an office wellness intervention (OWI) to reduce viral contamination in the workplace. It included use of a spray disinfectant on high-touch surfaces, and providing workers with alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel and hand sanitizing wipes along with user instructions. Viral transmission was monitored by applying an MS2 phage tracer…

Skin is our largest organ and something we may take for granted when it’s healthy. As an academic dermatologist I frequently hear misleading “facts” that seem to be stubbornly enduring. Here are some of the most commonly shared myths that can be cleared up immediately, and some truths you can rely on. Skin constantly renews…

The human body has a large surface area that is in contact with the outside world; much of this comes from the body’s largest organ – our skin – which protects us from a variety of potential threats. The other major sites of contact with the outside world come from the openings in the body…

Influenza and the common cold are completely different things. The clearly delineated influenza viruses cause a potentially serious illness. The common cold, on the other hand, is caused by hundreds of different infectious viruses. In the vast majority of cases, the progression and symptoms of the illness are much more benign. Contrary to popular belief,…