American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyRetrospective evaluation of colistin versus tigecycline for the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii and/or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections.
Therapeutic options are limited for infections because of Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Study aim was to compare the efficacy of colistin to tigecycline for the treatment of these types of infections. ⋯ Compared with patients who received tigecycline alone, patients who received colistin alone or in combination had a higher severity of acute illness indices and delays in initiation of effective therapy. This increased severity of illness contributed to the increased rate of mortality among patients treated with colistin for A baumannii or CRE infections.
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Am J Infect Control · Dec 2012
Designing a protocol to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections among hospitalized patients.
Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections comprise 40% of hospital-acquired infections with over 80% of these hospital-acquired urinary tract infections associated with the use of urinary catheters. The process that was used to establish a new hospital protocol using the "IAIMS" (identifying, assessing, implementing, modifying/maintaining, spread/surveillance) model to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections is described. The example is intended to serve as a framework for the development of protocols to address other hospital-acquired infections.
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Am J Infect Control · Dec 2012
Impact of alcohol-impregnated port protectors and needleless neutral pressure connectors on central line-associated bloodstream infections and contamination of blood cultures in an inpatient oncology unit.
A major risk factor for the development of bloodstream infection is the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC), especially in immunocompromised patients. CVC hub contamination is a risk factor for central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). ⋯ The implementation of alcohol-impregnated port protectors and needleless neutral pressure connectors significantly reduced the rates of CLABSIs and CBCs in our oncology patient population.