American journal of infection control
-
Am J Infect Control · Dec 2012
Designing a protocol to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections among hospitalized patients.
Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections comprise 40% of hospital-acquired infections with over 80% of these hospital-acquired urinary tract infections associated with the use of urinary catheters. The process that was used to establish a new hospital protocol using the "IAIMS" (identifying, assessing, implementing, modifying/maintaining, spread/surveillance) model to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections is described. The example is intended to serve as a framework for the development of protocols to address other hospital-acquired infections.
-
Am J Infect Control · Dec 2012
Impact of alcohol-impregnated port protectors and needleless neutral pressure connectors on central line-associated bloodstream infections and contamination of blood cultures in an inpatient oncology unit.
A major risk factor for the development of bloodstream infection is the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC), especially in immunocompromised patients. CVC hub contamination is a risk factor for central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). ⋯ The implementation of alcohol-impregnated port protectors and needleless neutral pressure connectors significantly reduced the rates of CLABSIs and CBCs in our oncology patient population.
-
Am J Infect Control · Nov 2012
The results of a 6-year epidemiologic surveillance for ventilator-associated pneumonia at a tertiary care intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention is an important patient safety initiative. We describe the impact of a multidisciplinary surveillance program on VAP rates in a tertiary medical-surgical-trauma intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ The study showed a reduction in VAP rates with active surveillance, reporting and evidence-based preventive strategies and identified several modifiable risk factors, which should be the focus of additional interventions.
-
Am J Infect Control · Nov 2012
Epidemiology and outcomes associated with surgical site infection following bariatric surgery.
Surgical site infection (SSI) is a frequent problem complicating bariatric surgery. However, the potential risk factors, risk stratification, and outcomes of SSIs in this patient population remain poorly defined. The aim of this prospective case-control study was to characterize better the risk factors and to improve risk stratification for SSIs following bariatric surgery. ⋯ SSI following bariatric surgery was associated with receipt of antibiotic prophylaxis other than cefazolin and comorbid conditions including sleep apnea and bipolar disorder. The BULCS score performed favorably as a predictor and risk adjuster for SSI following bariatric surgery. SSI was associated with increased health care resource utilization.
-
Am J Infect Control · Nov 2012
A negative nares screen in combination with absence of clinical risk factors can be used to identify patients with very low likelihood of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a Veterans Affairs hospital.
Screening for nares carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) could be used to identify patients at reduced risk for MRSA infection. However, recent studies suggest that negative results of nares surveillance testing are not reliable to predict a low risk for MRSA infection. ⋯ Negative nares screening results in combination with absence of certain clinical risk factors or syndromes could provide a useful strategy to predict patients with low likelihood of MRSA infection.