American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2014
Environment surface sampling in 33 Washington State fire stations for methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) were isolated from environment surfaces sampled from 33 Washington State fire stations. ⋯ The kit system allowed sampling of >2,000 surfaces from fire stations across Washington State. This is the first time an estimate of the level of MRSA-infected fire personnel has been determined from multiple districts within a single state. Further work is needed to determine if these data can be extrapolated to other career-based fire stations across the country.
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 2014
A multitiered strategy of simulation training, kit consolidation, and electronic documentation is associated with a reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections.
Simulation-based training has been associated with reduced central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates. We measured the combined effect of simulation training, electronic medical records (EMR)-based documentation, and standardized kits on CLABSI rates in our medical (MICU) and surgical (SICU) intensive care units (ICU). ⋯ Combined simulation training, standardized all-inclusive kits, and EMR-guided documentation were associated with greater documented compliance with sterile precautions and reduced CLABSI rate in our MICU. To achieve maximal benefit, refresher training of senior physicians supervising practice at the bedside may be needed.
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Am J Infect Control · May 2014
Observational StudyModifying the risk: once-a-day bathing "at risk" patients in the intensive care unit with chlorhexidine gluconate.
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) decreases hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that can cause colonization and infection. A standard approach is the bathing of all patients with CHG to prevent MRSA transmission. To decrease CHG utilization, this study assessed selective daily administration of CHG bathing to intensive care unit patients who had an MRSA-positive result or a central venous catheter. This risk-based approach was associated with a 72% decrease in hospital-acquired MRSA transmission rate.
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Am J Infect Control · May 2014
Outcomes of a ventilator-associated pneumonia bundle on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and other health care-associated infections in a long-term acute care hospital setting.
Long-term trends in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates, and other health care-associated infections, were examined prior to, during, and after introduction of a VAP bundle in a long-term acute care hospital setting. VAP incidence rate declined in a step-wise fashion and reached a null value. ⋯ VAP in the long-term acute care hospital setting can be controlled over time with implementation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-based VAP bundle. This outcome also may decrease certain other health care-associated infections.
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2014
Infection control link nurse program: an interdisciplinary approach in targeting health care-acquired infection.
We describe a successful interdisciplinary liaison program that effectively reduced health care-acquired (HCA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a university hospital setting. ⋯ Link nurse program effectively reduced HCA-MRSA. Goal-defined metrics with ongoing re-education for the nurses by IP personnel helped drive these results.