American journal of infection control
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Treatment of cancer has contributed to a growing number of immunocompromised patients with life-threatening nosocomial infections (NI). High mortality with considerable cost is observed when they are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Few studies on infection control and surveillance have been undertaken in this population group. ⋯ The high rates reported in this study may reflect a combination of several factors related to the underlying illness, neutrophil count, and exposure to invasive procedures. The adjusted infection rates described here provide specific surveillance data for further interhospital comparisons and also to assess the influence of invasive medical interventions, allowing the implementation of preventable measures to control infections.
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Am J Infect Control · Oct 1997
Comparative StudyMicrobiologic evaluation of needleless and needle-access devices.
This study was carried out to determine whether needleless intravenous access devices are more likely to allow microorganisms to enter the fluid pathway than intravenous needle-access devices. ⋯ These laboratory studies demonstrate that there is no statistically significant difference in the rate of fluid pathway contamination between needleless and intravenous needle-access devices. However, if the septa of either needleless or needle systems are not disinfected before puncture, a high rate of fluid pathway contamination may occur.
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Nosocomial infections (NI) are believed to occur more commonly in patients with burns than in patients undergoing surgery, but benchmark rates have not been well described, and widely accepted definitions of NI in patients with burns are not available. We present a clinically useful set of definitions for NI for the pediatric burn population and provide benchmark infection rates for NI at selected sites. ⋯ Infection remains a cause of significant morbidity and death for patients with burns. The definitions and benchmark rates reported here may be useful in evaluation of NI surveillance strategies and calculation of infection rates, which could then be used to evaluate current treatment modalities and improve outcomes for the burn population.
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 1997
Obstacles encountered in application of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for control of tuberculosis in a large dental center.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have designated five categories of workplaces as carrying higher than normal risk for exposure to tuberculosis (TB); "health care facilities" is one of these categories. To assist all health care facilities in developing an appropriate and effective control plan, the CDC has listed various components to be included in the overall plan-however, the components needed cannot be determined until the level of risk has been determined. The published criteria for risk assessment are more appropriately applicable to a hospital-based facility. In complying with CDC's guidelines and adopting the recommended components of the TB control program at a large, educational, ambulatory care dental facility, several obstacles were identified. ⋯ Development of a TB control program relies heavily on assessment of risk within a health care facility. The sporadic reports of PPD conversion rates among dental care workers are not adequate to determine the magnitude of exposure to TB in educational dental settings. Further studies are necessary to establish the true risk and to assist dental care facilities in developing TB control programs.