American journal of infection control
-
Am J Infect Control · Dec 1998
Case ReportsMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii: an unexpected difference in epidemiologic behavior.
The Dutch guideline on hospital policy for the prevention of nosocomial spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) states that patients transferred from hospitals abroad must be placed in strict isolation immediately on admission to a hospital in the Netherlands. Three patients colonized with both MRSA and a multiresistant Acinetobacter were transferred from hospitals in Mediterranean countries to 3 different hospitals in the Netherlands. Despite isolation precautions, Acinetobacter spread in 2 of the 3 hospitals, whereas nosocomial spread of MRSA did not occur. ⋯ Precautions recommended for multiresistant gram-negative organisms are insufficient for the prevention of nosocomial spread of multiresistant Acinetobacter. The airborne mode of spread of acinetobacters should be taken into account, and guidelines should be revised accordingly.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Am J Infect Control · Feb 1998
ReviewVentilator-associated pneumonia and frequency of circuit changes.
The purpose of this research was to determine whether changing tubing circuits for mechanical ventilation less often than every 48 hours would allow maintenance of acceptably low rates for ventilator-associated pneumonia. ⋯ The weight of the evidence indicates that breathing circuits should be changed every 7 days. This practice of routine changes should be abandoned only if additional studies demonstrate that prolonged use of the same breathing circuit is associated with low rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia.