American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Mar 2005
Comparative StudyComparative efficacy of hand hygiene agents in the reduction of bacteria and viruses.
Health care-associated infections most commonly result from person-to-person transmission via the hands of health care workers. ⋯ Antimicrobial handwashing agents were the most efficacious in bacterial removal, whereas waterless agents showed variable efficacy. Alcohol-based handrubs compared with other products demonstrated better efficacy after a single episode of hand hygiene than after 10 episodes. Effective hand hygiene for high levels of viral contamination with a nonenveloped virus was best achieved by physical removal with a nonantimicrobial soap or tap water alone.
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Am J Infect Control · Mar 2005
Impact of an educational program and policy changes on decreasing catheter-associated bloodstream infections in a medical intensive care unit in Brazil.
Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CVC-BSI) are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care settings. Many strategies have been used to decrease the risk of CVC-BSI; however, few studies have explored the educational intervention as an approach to reduce the CVC-BSI rates. ⋯ A multiple approach included an educational strategy, targeted to specific problems observed during a careful evaluation of CVC care practices, and policy changes can decrease rates of CVC-BSI. However, despite the good results, our rates are still high, and reinforcement of CVC care practices will be continued.