Here are the four of the biggest spine and orthopedic infection control stories in 2018.
1. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment determined human error caused an infection breach that may have affected up to 5,800 spine and orthopedic surgery patients at Denver-based Porter Adventist Hospital.
2. The FDA issued a warning against Genetech and its president Edwin Pinos for manufacturing stem cell products without FDA approval and deviating from current manufacturing practice requirements, which may have led to microbial contamination.
3. The Joint Commission and CDC came out with new infection control resources for podiatry, orthopedic and pain management settings.
4. Jonnie Vanderhoef, CRNA, settled a whistleblower lawsuit with Sparrow Carson Hospital in Carson City, Mich. Mr. Vanderhoef alleged he told hospital officials about how orthopedic surgeon Raymond Allard, DO, practiced poor infection control, but his complaints were ignored.