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132 CMO / CARE DELIVERY Sell Your Surplus Surgical Inventory to eSutures.com Contact us today to get started! 888-416-2409 • info@esutures.com In only a few days, you can turn excess inventory into usable capital with our streamlined and simple process. For more information, or to begin the bid process, please call 888-416-2409 or email info@esutures.com. Don't let your extra product inventory go to waste! eSutures.com is interested in purchasing your in-date, short-dated and expired products in full selling units, open boxes and even individual, loose units. WE CAN PURCHASE: • Ethicon Suture • Ethicon Endosurgery • Covidien Suture • Covidien Endosurgery • Synthes • Arthrex • Bard • Gore • Masimo • Applied Medical and more! Maryland Hospital Shuts Down NICU After Deadly Bacteria Discovered By Mackenzie Bean T he neonatal intensive care unit of the Prince George's County Hospital Center in Cheverly, Md., was shut down Aug. 9 after three patients tested positive for the Pseudomonas bacteria, according to The Washington Post. Testing was prompted after the deaths of two patients, but those deaths have not been officially linked to the presence of the water-borne bacteria. The three babies who tested positive for Pseudomonas have not shown symptoms of an illness. Nine NICU patients were transferred to nearby hospitals while authorities attempted to pinpoint the source of the bacteria, which was discovered in a water pipe. The hospital took steps to determine the root cause of the bacteria and moved patients out of the unit in an act of caution, said Delores Butler, spokesperson for Dimen- sions Healthcare Corp., the nonprofit organization that operates the hospital. Water was tested several times and decontaminated be- fore the NICU reopened, according to the Post. While Pseudomonas bacteria can cause mild symptoms like skin rashes or swimmer's ear in healthy individuals, it can be fatal for people with compromised immune sys- tems who are more susceptible to infections. Prince George's County Hospital Center could not be reached for comment. n 5 Ways Healthcare Providers Can Protect Patients From Sepsis By Heather Punke A ccording to a Vital Signs report from the CDC, roughly seven in 10 patients with sepsis had used healthcare services frequently or had chronic conditions that required frequent medical care. is represents an opportunity for healthcare providers to improve sep- sis prevention and treatment. "When sepsis occurs, it should be treated as a medical emergency," said Tom Frieden, MD, director of the CDC. "Doctors and nurses can prevent sepsis and also the devastating effects of sepsis, and patients and families can watch for sepsis and ask, 'Could this be sepsis?'" e Vital Signs report lists the following five roles healthcare provid- ers can play in recognizing and treating sepsis and preventing it in the first place. 1. Prevent infections by following infection control requirements, performing proper hand-washing and making sure patients are vacci- nated against flu and pneumonia. 2. Educate patients and families about how to prevent infec- tions, manage chronic conditions and seek medical care if the patient worsens. 3. Know the signs of sepsis — shivering, fever, extreme discom- fort, clammy skin, confusion, shortness of breath and high heart rate — to speed treatment. 4. Act quickly if sepsis is suspected by ordering tests to determine if an infection is present and start medical care immediately. 5. Check on patient progress oen and reassess antibiotic thera- py in one to two days to change therapy as needed. n