Becker's Hospital Review

78 CMO / CARE DELIVERY 7 Waterborne Pathogens to Know By Brian Zimmerman I n recognition of Discovery Channel launching its annual "Shark Week" programming on July 23, STAT published a list of waterborne pathogens more likely to harm summertime swimmers than sharks. Here are seven waterborne pathogens to know. 1. Cryptosporidium: is diarrhea-inducing par- asite is oen transmitted via swimming pools and water playgrounds. Outbreaks attributed to this par- asite more than doubled in the U.S. from 14 in 2014 to 32 in 2016. 2. Pseudomonas: ese rod-shaped bacteria com- monly infect hot tub users by burrowing into hair follicles, subsequently causing red, itchy bumps on the skin. 3. Shigella: ese highly contagious bacteria can dwell in lakes, ponds and beaches and cause approx- imately 500,000 illnesses in the U.S. annually. Swal- lowing contaminated water can bring on shigellosis — a gastrointestinal illness characterized by mild to severe diarrhea that can also include symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps and bloody stools. 4. Legionella: ese bacteria infect the airways, not the gut, and can be transmitted by the warm, steamy air of hot tubs. e bacteria induce a virulent form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. 5. Norovirus: Symptoms attributable to norovirus include stomach pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. e virus can spread via contact with the fecal matter of infected people, which can contaminate surfaces, food and water. On average, the illness causes 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths each year, according to the CDC. 6. Cyanobacteria: ese bacteria thrive in the sum- mertime. When runoff fertilizer is introduced to beaches, lakes and rivers, explosive bacterial growth can occur. e bacterial blooms are toxic and can irritate the eyes, skin and throats of swimmers. Swal- lowing water containing the bacteria can induce headaches, vomiting and even liver damage in severe cases. 7. Naegleria fowleri: is parasite is commonly re- ferred to as the "brain-eating" amoeba and is native to warm freshwater. When the amoeba enters the body through the nose, a brain infection called pri- mary amebic meningoencephalitis can occur. e illness is rare, but almost always fatal. ere were 138 cases of PAM in the U. S. between 1962 and 2015. Of those cases, just three individuals survived, accord- ing to the CDC. n Manager Didn't Enforce Sick Day Policy: Chipotle's Explanation for Norovirus Outbreak By Brian Zimmerman A poorly enforced sick-leave policy caused the recent norovirus outbreak at a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Sterling, Va., according to CNBC. Loudoun County Health Department received 135 reports of illness re- lated to the outbreak, with two restaurant customers testing positive for norovirus. The outbreak reportedly occurred between July 13 and 16. During a July 25 conference call, Chipotle confirmed the source of the outbreak stemmed from poor enforcement of the company's paid sick-leave policy, as management allowed an employee to work at the restaurant while sick, according to CNBC. The Sterling Chipotle location temporarily shut down to sanitize the restaurant following the outbreak. In 2015, Chipotle was associated with multistate outbreaks of E. coli, norovirus and Salmonella. "If another chain had a norovirus outbreak, I am pretty sure that it would not have gained the national exposure the way that Chipotle had in this last outbreak," Martin Bucknavage, senior food safety extension asso- ciate at Pennsylvania State University in State College, told CNBC via email. "So yes, we are hyperaware of their issues. That being said, the entire system of retail operations should have been hyperaware of em- ployee health issues." Norovirus can cause stomach pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The vi- rus is spread via contact with the fecal matter of infected people, which can contaminate surfaces, food and water. On average, the illness caus- es 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths each year, according to the CDC. n Press Ganey Releases 1st Quality Indicator to Measure Assaults on Nurses By Brian Zimmerman The performance analytics provider Press Ganey created the first qual- ity indicator to measure assaults on nursing personnel. The indicator is a part of the company's National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators, which aims to increase understanding about work- place safety as assaults against nurses are being reported at epidemic levels, according to Press Ganey. "To provide patient-centered care and be both engaged and resilient in their roles as caregivers, nurses must feel safe in their practice envi- ronment," said Christy Dempsey, MSN, Press Ganey CNO. "This indi- cator can help organizations prioritize workplace safety, and delivers insights needed to nurture a culture of nursing excellence." n

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