Scrooge!

A newspaper in the UK reports today that a hospital there has banned the display of Christmas decorations because they are an infection control hazard. What in the world is going on there with regard to their approach to infection control? Recall that some months ago I blogged about a phlebotomist who was fired because of a small piece of jewelry worn on a chain under her shirt on the grounds that this was an infection control risk, and earlier this week I blogged about a piece in their leading infection control publication. As I look at the news items in the mainstream media regarding infection control on a daily basis, I am struck by the fact that the vast majority are in UK publications. Clearly, the public in the UK is very interested in the topic. But you have to wonder whether some of the actions taken in British hospitals are designed more to make headlines rather than a true attempt to reduce infections.