We spotlight the importance of hand
hygiene to improve public health, serve as a trusted
resource and raise awareness of leading-edge hand
hygiene and skin health scientific advancements through the GOJO Blog.
GOJO microbiologists, scientists,
nurses and communication professionals post regularly
and we also get the views of outside experts and
thought leaders in the field. It’s all part of the
GOJO Purpose, saving lives and making lives better
through well-being solutions.
What You Need to Know About Candida auris in the Healthcare Setting
10/10/2019
By Rachel Leslie
Clinical Science Manager
Recent media reports have called attention to Candida auris, a fungus which was first discovered in a woman’s ear canal in a Japanese hospital in 20091 and has since spread across the globe, landing in the United States four years ago as a new cause of healthcare-associated infections.2 According to the CDC, C. auris is an emerging pathogen that presents a serious global health threat due to frequent resistance to antifungal drugs, causing severe illness in patients, patients remaining carriers of the organism, and its’ ability to survive on environmental surfaces for an extended period of time.3
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Hepatitis A: What We Know (and Can Learn) from the Outbreaks
8/13/2019
By Chip Manuel, Ph.D.
Food Safety Science Advisor
According to Florida Department of Health, the state had 106 hepatitis A cases in 2014. 123 in 2015. 122 in 2016. In 2017, that number doubled to 276. In 2018, it almost doubled again – reaching 548 cases. As of August 3rd, that number is almost 4x the number of cases from the previous year. In 2019, 2,123 hepatitis A cases have been reported to date. In fact, in the week of July 28th to August 3rd had 81 hepatitis A cases. While Florida is getting the most media attention, 29 states have reported an ongoing hepatitis A outbreak, according to the CDC.
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Measles Awareness: Help Stop Transmission
6/18/2019
By Rachel Leslie
Clinical Science Manager
While Measles was declared eliminated in 2000, the United States is now experiencing the highest number of measles cases since 1994.
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Let’s Celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day
5/6/2019
By Jim Arbogast, Ph.D.
Hygiene Sciences and Public Health Advancements Vice President, GOJO Industries
World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated annually every May 5th. It is a day to raise awareness for the critical role hand hygiene plays in infection prevention. Hand hygiene compliance makes a dramatic difference, both in terms of lives saved and healthcare costs reduced.
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Help Prevent the Spread of Hepatitis A
4/30/2019
By Rachel Leslie
Clinical Science Manager
While Hepatitis A rates had been decreasing in the United States since the late 1990’s through 2015, localized outbreaks have made a resurgence. Since 2016 several states including Arizona, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Utah have experienced outbreaks, resulting in over 15,000 confirmed cases and 140 deaths across the US.
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