American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Aug 1998
Comparative Study Clinical TrialLack of agreement between tympanic and oral temperature measurements in adult hospitalized patients.
The purpose of this study was to compare temperature measurements obtained by tympanic thermometers with those obtained by oral electronic or mercury-glass thermometers in adult hospitalized patients. ⋯ Temperatures measured by tympanic thermometers generally have poor agreement with those measured by oral electronic or mercury-glass thermometers in adult hospitalized patients. We recommend the tympanic thermometers not by used for routine screening for fever in this patient population.
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Am J Infect Control · Aug 1998
Comparative StudyComparison of the microbial barrier properties of a needleless and a conventional needle-based intravenous access system.
Sporadic reports of increased infection rates involving concerning access systems, especially in home-care setting, have raised questions concerning the safety of all needleless systems. Addressing this concern, Baxter Healthcare Corporation and the Centers for Disease Control an d Prevention performed parallel laboratory studies comparing the microbial barrier properties of the Interlink (trademark of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, Ill) needleless system with a conventional intravenous access system. ⋯ The data demonstrate the needless system performs as well as the conventional intravenous access system with respect to the risk of microbial contamination and reinforce the need for appropriate septum disinfection before accessing either system.
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Am J Infect Control · Aug 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialClinical efficacy of a chlorous acid preoperative skin antiseptic.
Among the ways to reduce the incidence of iatrogenic infectious disease is the use of efficacious preoperative antiseptics. Iodophors and chlorhexidines, the chief presurgical disinfectants today, have various problems with practicality. A new preoperative skin antiseptic has been developed (Alcide Corporation, Redmond, Wash) that involves the mixture of a 0.1% sodium chlorite formulation and an activating preparation of 0.5% mandelic acid to produce chlorous acid and other antimicrobial degradation products. ⋯ An activated chlorous acid product statistically matched the performance of chlorhexidine gluconate in reducing populations of resident flora on treated skin sites. With an easier and shorter application procedure and strong, long-term antimicrobial activity, the new halogenated antiseptic seems to be a useful and possible efficacious preoperative skin disinfectant.