American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2018
Predictors for gut colonization of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit.
With the emergence of carbapenem-resistant isolates, the therapeutic alternatives have become limited. Various factors are responsible for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) gut colonization. This study was conducted to determine predictors for CRE gut colonization in neonates who were hospital delivered and admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). ⋯ Active surveillance of cultures from hospitalized patients and implementation of preventive efforts can reduce the risk of CRE.
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2018
Multicenter StudyImpact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium's multidimensional approach on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in 14 intensive care units in 11 hospitals of 5 cities within Argentina.
To analyze the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional approach (IMA) on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in 11 hospitals within 5 cities of Argentina from January 2014-April 2017. ⋯ Implementing the IMA was associated with significant reductions in VAP rates in intensive care units within Argentina.
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2018
Comparative StudySodium hypochlorite is more effective than 70% ethanol against biofilms of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.
Although disinfectants are used for eradication of bacteria from environmental surfaces, their antibiofilm efficacy is often not considered in determining the choice of disinfectant. ⋯ Sodium hypochlorite demonstrated superior efficacy in controlling both planktonic and biofilm states of growth in S aureus. Furthermore, the characteristic morphologic changes observed in strong biofilm formers hint at its biofilm-specific activity.
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2018
The development of hand hygiene compliance imperatives in an emergency department.
Monitoring results showing poor hand hygiene compliance in a major, busy emergency department prompted a quality improvement initiative to improve hand hygiene compliance. ⋯ The context of care and barriers to compliance should be reflected in hand hygiene expectations and monitoring. In the emergency department, the requirement to deliver urgent live-saving care can supersede conventional hand hygiene expectations.
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2018
Wearing long sleeves while prepping a patient in the operating room decreases airborne contaminants.
The use of long sleeves by nonscrubbed personnel in the operating room has been called into question. We hypothesized that wearing long sleeves and gloves, compared with having bare arms without gloves, while applying the skin preparation solution would decrease particulate and microbial contamination. ⋯ The use of long sleeves and gloves while applying the skin preparation solution decreased particulate and microbial shedding in several of the operating rooms tested. Although long sleeves may not be necessary for all operating room personnel, they may decrease airborne contamination while the skin prep is applied, which may lead to decreased surgical site infections.