American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2013
Impact of chlorhexidine-impregnated washcloths on reducing incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in hematology-oncology patients.
Daily skin cleansing with washcloths impregnated with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) of patients in intensive care unit is associated with reduction in incidence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) acquisition. This study describes the impact on incidence of VRE colonization after the implementation of daily skin cleansing with 2% CHG-impregnated washcloths in hematology-oncology patients. ⋯ We did not observe a statistically significant reduction in the rate of VRE colonization in association with the use of 2% CHG-impregnated washcloths among hematology-oncology patients.
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Am J Infect Control · Feb 2013
Infection prevention practices in adult intensive care units in a large community hospital system after implementing strategies to reduce health care-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
A range of strategies and approaches have been developed for preventing health care-associated infections. Understanding the variation in practices among facilities is necessary to improve compliance with existing programs and aid the implementation of new interventions. ⋯ In this large, community-based health care system, there was substantial variation in the products and methods to reduce health care-associated infections. Despite system-wide emphasis on basic practices as a precursor to adding special approach technologies, this survey showed that these technologies were commonplace, including in facilities where improvement in basic practices was needed.
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Am J Infect Control · Feb 2013
Comparative StudyComparison of adenosine triphosphate, microbiological load, and residual protein as indicators for assessing the cleanliness of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes.
This study evaluated 3 potential indicators of gastrointestinal endoscope cleanliness: adenosine triphosphate (ATP), microbiological load, and protein. ⋯ ATP measurement can provide a reliable, rapid and practical assessment of endoscope cleanliness for routine monitoring in the clinical setting.
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Am J Infect Control · Feb 2013
The reduction of risk in central line-associated bloodstream infections: knowledge, attitudes, and evidence-based practices in health care workers.
We set out to acquire information about the knowledge, attitudes, and evidence-based practices associated with the insertion and maintenance of central vascular catheters (CVC) for the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). ⋯ The study demonstrated that written policies, formal training, and years of experience contributed to an increase in knowledge, practice, and positive attitudes toward CLABSI prevention. In addition the paper demonstrates how great this need is, having reported many non-evidence-based practices still continuing despite new evidence.
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Am J Infect Control · Feb 2013
Comparative StudyHand hygiene compliance in the critical care setting: a comparative study of 2 different alcohol handrub formulations.
Hand hygiene (HH) compliance can be affected by the accessibility of products (alcohol-based products or chlorhexidine) and by the formulations of these products. There are few published studies comparing different alcohol-based hand disinfection formulations. ⋯ Alcohol handrub use was greater than chlorhexidine use, but HH compliance was low in both units independent of the alcohol formulation available. The similarity of use of both alcohol formulations suggests that health care workers tend to use whatever product is readily available.