American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Sep 2013
Patients' potential role in the transmission of health care-associated infections: prevalence of contamination with bacterial pathogens and patient attitudes toward hand hygiene.
Transmission of health care-associated infections (HAIs) has been primarily attributed to health care workers, and hand hygiene is considered the most important means to reduce transmission. Whereas hand hygiene research has focused on reducing health care worker hand contamination and improving hand hygiene compliance, contamination of patients' hands and their role in the transmission of HAIs remains unknown. ⋯ Pathogenic organisms can be frequently detected on hands of acute care patients. Future studies are needed to better understand the relationship between patient hand contamination and the acquisition of HAIs in addition to the role patient hand hygiene can play in reducing HAIs.
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Am J Infect Control · Sep 2013
Risk factors associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriage at admission in an infant cohort at a tertiary teaching hospital in France.
We describe risk factors associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae fecal carriage at admission in an infant population. 12.6% were carrying extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli were the most frequently identified species. Prior antibiotic therapy (P = .016; odds ratio, 4.07; 95% confidence interval: 1.29-12.81) and the presence tracheostomy or gastrostomy (P = .018; odds ratio, 3.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.24-10.53) were independently associated with carriage at admission.
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Am J Infect Control · Sep 2013
Effect of disposable barriers, disinfection, and cleaning on controlling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus environmental contamination.
Environmental contamination and transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been reported in dental health care settings. National professional dental associations recommend controlling surface contamination using disposable barriers or disinfection. Because these procedures may be costly, impractical, and/or toxic, we compared their effect against traditional detergent-based cleaning for decontaminating a dental chair sprayed with MRSA. ⋯ Cleaning (wipe-rinse method) using a sodium-lauryl-sulphate-based detergent demonstrated equivalence with disposable barrier placement or disinfection-based protocol for reducing MRSA contamination on dental chairs. This has practical and cost implications for controlling MRSA transmission in dental health care settings.
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Am J Infect Control · Sep 2013
Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy companion animals living in nursing homes and in the community.
Animals could be reservoirs of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) strains, but epidemiologic data on ESBL-producing bacteria in healthy pets are missing. We determined the prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in pets living in nursing homes and in households to investigate the potential role of companion animals as carriers of ESBL. ⋯ ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were present in healthy cats and dogs, particularly from those with a history of antibiotic treatment. These animals could become ESBL reservoirs. Investigations are needed to assess the possible transmission of these microorganisms between pets and humans.