American journal of infection control
-
Am J Infect Control · Sep 2013
Effect of disposable barriers, disinfection, and cleaning on controlling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus environmental contamination.
Environmental contamination and transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been reported in dental health care settings. National professional dental associations recommend controlling surface contamination using disposable barriers or disinfection. Because these procedures may be costly, impractical, and/or toxic, we compared their effect against traditional detergent-based cleaning for decontaminating a dental chair sprayed with MRSA. ⋯ Cleaning (wipe-rinse method) using a sodium-lauryl-sulphate-based detergent demonstrated equivalence with disposable barrier placement or disinfection-based protocol for reducing MRSA contamination on dental chairs. This has practical and cost implications for controlling MRSA transmission in dental health care settings.
-
Am J Infect Control · Sep 2013
Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy companion animals living in nursing homes and in the community.
Animals could be reservoirs of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) strains, but epidemiologic data on ESBL-producing bacteria in healthy pets are missing. We determined the prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in pets living in nursing homes and in households to investigate the potential role of companion animals as carriers of ESBL. ⋯ ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were present in healthy cats and dogs, particularly from those with a history of antibiotic treatment. These animals could become ESBL reservoirs. Investigations are needed to assess the possible transmission of these microorganisms between pets and humans.
-
Am J Infect Control · Aug 2013
Diagnostic assessment of different environmental cleaning monitoring methods.
In a simultaneous assessment of 250 environmental surfaces after terminal cleaning using aerobic cultures as a gold standard, both fluorescent marker and an adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay system demonstrated better diagnosticity compared with subjective visual inspection. These results support the use of these environmental monitoring systems in the health care setting.
-
Am J Infect Control · Aug 2013
Effect of central line bundle on central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units.
This study was conducted in 4 intensive care units (ICUs) to investigate the effect of the central line (CL) bundle on central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). ⋯ The higher adherence to the CL bundle was not positively correlated to a reduction in the CLABSI rate in adults, but it was related to a zero CLABSI for 18 months among children in the ICUs.
-
Am J Infect Control · Aug 2013
Disinfection of needleless connectors with chlorhexidine-alcohol provides long-lasting residual disinfectant activity.
The optimal disinfection method for needleless connectors (NCs) is unclear. We used an experimental model of microbial NC contamination to test different scrub times (swipe, 5, 15, 30 seconds) of chlorhexidine-alcohol versus alcohol and for residual disinfectant activity. Swipe with alcohol did not adequately disinfect NCs, particularly when contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. With ≥5-second scrub, chlorhexidine-alcohol and alcohol performed similarly, but chlorhexidine-alcohol showed residual disinfectant activity for up to 24 hours.