American journal of infection control
-
Am J Infect Control · Jan 2016
Effects of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention campaign on infection rate, catheter utilization, and health care workers' perspective at a community safety net hospital.
Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections is in the forefront of health care quality. However, nurse and physician engagement is a common barrier in infection prevention efforts. After implementation of a multidisciplinary catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention campaign, we studied the impact of our campaign and showed its association with reducing the CAUTI rate and catheter utilization and the positive effect on health care workers' engagement and perspectives. CAUTI prevention campaigns can lead to lower infection rates and change health care workers' perspective.
-
Am J Infect Control · Jan 2016
Bacterial contamination of propofol vials used in operating rooms of a third-level hospital.
We found a 6.1% bacterial contamination rate among 198 propofol vials collected after clinical use in 12 operating rooms of a high-complexity hospital in Cali, Colombia. Some propofol vials were used for extended periods (up to 72 hours), and only 26.1% of vials were punctured once. Median time of use, although not statistically significant, was higher in positive samples (7.2 vs 3.5 hours, P = .08). Education on the topic should stress that vials are single-patient use and must be immediately discarded after use.
-
Am J Infect Control · Dec 2015
Observational StudyControl of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae nosocomial acquisition in an intensive care unit: A time series regression analysis.
This study was undertaken to determine the temporal relationship between implementation of different interventions in an intensive care unit (ICU) and control of endemic nosocomial acquisition of extended-spectrum β-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLE). ⋯ This study shows that ICU closure was associated with, but not necessarily the reason for, control of ESBLE cross-transmission in a nonoutbreak setting. Environmental ESBE sources may play a role in cross-transmission.
-
Am J Infect Control · Dec 2015
Utilization and impact of a pulsed-xenon ultraviolet room disinfection system and multidisciplinary care team on Clostridium difficile in a long-term acute care facility.
Health care-associated transmission of Clostridium difficile has been well documented in long-term acute care facilities. This article reports on 2 interventions aimed at reducing the transmission risk: multidisciplinary care teams and no-touch pulsed-xenon disinfection. C difficile transmission rates were tracked over a 39-month period while these 2 interventions were implemented. ⋯ In the following 15-month period, the multidisciplinary teams continued, and pulsed-xenon disinfection was added as an adjunct to manual cleaning of patient rooms and common areas. During this time, transmission rates dropped 57% (P = .02). These results indicate that the combined use of multidisciplinary teams and pulsed-xenon disinfection can have a significant impact on C difficile transmission rates in long-term care facilities.
-
Am J Infect Control · Nov 2015
Microbiologic characteristics and predictors of mortality in bloodstream infections in intensive care unit patients: A 1-year, large, prospective surveillance study in 5 Italian hospitals.
Bloodstream infections (BSIs) from multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria cause morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients worldwide. This study investigated the incidence of BSIs in 5 adult general ICUs in Rome, Italy, and evaluated the mortality rate and risk factors associated with these infections. ⋯ BSIs caused by K pneumoniae and cardiovascular comorbidity in ICU patients are associated with a higher risk of death. Thorough surveillance for MDR pathogens and stratification of the patients' risk on admission into the ICU are key to improving the outcomes of these infections.