Journal of infection and public health
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J Infect Public Health · Apr 2013
Effectiveness of a multidimensional approach for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in an adult intensive care unit in Cuba: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).
This study sought to assess the effect of the multidimensional approach developed by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) on the reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in patients hospitalized in an adult intensive care unit (AICU) in an INICC member hospital in Havana, Cuba. ⋯ The implementation the INICC multidimensional approach for VAP was associated with a significant reduction in the VAP rate in the participating AICU of Cuba.
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J Infect Public Health · Feb 2013
The effect of hand hygiene compliance on hospital-acquired infections in an ICU setting in a Kuwaiti teaching hospital.
Hand washing is widely accepted as the cornerstone of infection control in the intensive care unit (ICU). Nosocomial infections are frequently viewed as indicating poor compliance with hand washing guidelines. To determine the hand hygiene (HH) compliance rate among healthcare workers (HCWs) and its effect on the nosocomial infection rates in the ICU of our hospital, we conducted an interventional study. ⋯ There were significant reductions in the following: the rate of overall health care-associated infections/1000 patient-days, which fell from 37.2 pre-intervention to 15.1 post-intervention (P<0.001); the rate of bloodstream infections, which fell from 18.6 to 3.4/1000 central-line-days (P<0.001); and the rate of lower respiratory tract infections, which fell from 17.6 to 5.2/1000 ventilator-days (P<0.001). Similarly, there were significant reductions in the isolation rates of 4 major hospital pathogens (P<0.001 and P=0.03). These findings suggest that although cross-infection in the ICU is a complex process, its frequency can be affected by meticulous adherence to hand hygiene recommendations.
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J Infect Public Health · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyAn audit of inpatient management of community-acquired pneumonia in Oman: a comparison with regional clinical guidelines.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Herein, we present the findings from an audit of CAP management at a tertiary hospital in Oman. The main objective was to evaluate the quality of care given to patients and compare it with the standards in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) CAP guidelines. ⋯ The clinical coding of CAP diagnosis was poor. There was very poor adherence to the CAP severity assessment and the provision of preventive measures upon hospital discharge. The development and implementation of a local hospital-based integrated care pathway may lead to more successful implementation of the guidelines.
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J Infect Public Health · Apr 2012
Point prevalence and risk factors of hospital acquired infections in a cluster of university-affiliated hospitals in Shiraz, Iran.
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are critical and mostly preventable complications that occur in hospitalized patients and lead to major health and economic burdens. Most of the information on HAI risk factors and the recommended preventive measures is based on data acquired from only a few countries. The aim of this point prevalence HAI study conducted in Shiraz, Iran, was to study the local epidemiology of HAIs and the major risk factors for acquiring HAIs in a Middle-Eastern region. ⋯ This point prevalence study showed that HAIs are frequent in Shiraz university hospitals, and that the proportion of patients receiving antibiotics is high. The results imply that more primary prevention efforts are necessary to address HAIs associated with using indwelling devices and to prevent surgical site infections.
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J Infect Public Health · Apr 2012
Acinetobacter infections in a tertiary level intensive care unit in northern India: epidemiology, clinical profiles and outcomes.
Nosocomial Acinetobacter infections are an increasing concern in intensive care units (ICU). ⋯ Acinetobacter infections are highly prevalent in the ICU, with medical patients being more susceptible to lung infections, particularly late-onset VAP. The early and appropriate selection of antibiotics is the most important determinant of survival among these patients.