Colorectal cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death, with 1 in 25 people in the United States developing colorectal cancer at some point in their lifetime.  One of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to get routine screenings. The American Cancer Society recommends…

The Thin Prep® Pap test by HOLOGIC® relies on filtration technology to remove interfering substances and non-diagnostic material from the Pap sample. This filtration technology also is responsible for collecting a sufficient amount of diagnostic material from the sample and transferring it onto the slide, creating a representative monolayer of cells the ThinPrep® Pap test…

As the medical profession advances, as does the awareness of cross-contamination and where germs are harbored. It is important to understand that bacteria and viruses are not the only things that are transferred from surface to surface and patient to patient. Food particles, medications or medical products, fibers, pests, and other substances can also be…

In the United States, there are more than 100,000 tracheostomy procedures performed each year. While less than 20% of these are permanent and will be discharged home with the patient, all tracheostomies will initially be cared for by the medical professional, namely nursing staff. A tracheostomy is a tube placed through the cricothyroid membrane, directly…

As a nurse, nursing assistant, or another healthcare professional or personal caretaker, there is a good chance that you will take care of patients who have an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC). The goal when caring for an IUC is keeping the patient safe and healthy. While IUCs are convenient for healthcare staff and help accurately…

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are the most widely reported healthcare-associated infection (HAI). It is estimated that nearly 40% of HAI are CAUTI, leading central-line associated bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia by wide margins. 75% of UTIs that are acquired in an acute care setting are attributed to indwelling urinary catheters (IUC)….

As the operating room empties and the sterilization process begins for the next patient, the last thing to be swept up off the floor is the empty packet of Surgilube® that has crusted to the floor by bloody footprints. Though the emergency surgery lasted longer than anyone expected, this trauma didn’t get the best of…

Surgilube Surgical Lubricant by HR Pharmaceuticals is a super smooth translucent gel that can be used as a medical lubricant in a variety of settings. Surgilube has been trusted by medical professionals as the go-to lubricant for more than 80 years. Because it is a sterile, water-soluble, latex-free, bacteriostatic lube, it is generally safe to…

Vaginal exams are not a medical procedure that many patients look forward to. Medical equipment is used to examine a woman’s most personal area, something that she herself likely does not do. Aside from the physical discomfort, vaginal exams can make patients feel uncomfortable because the position and nature of the exam can make them…

Not everyone is diligent about ensuring that their stock of lube is properly maintained. When the situation arises where lubrication is required and there are not commercial lube products available, people tend to make due. What people find and use as lubricant tends to vary based on why they need lube, what is readily available,…