American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Oct 2010
Role of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening in the management of skin and soft tissue infections.
We set out to determine whether nasal swab isolates can identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and guide therapy in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Among hospitalized patients admitted to a general medicine service with SSTI, specificity and positive predictive value for MRSA in nasal swab isolates were 100%; sensitivity was 55%. Thus, positive nasal swab cultures may help identify MRSA colonization and guide antimicrobial therapy for SSTI when wound cultures cannot be obtained.
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Am J Infect Control · Sep 2010
Decreasing ventilator-associated pneumonia in adult intensive care units using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement bundle.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) increases in-hospital mortality of ventilated patients to 46%, compared with 32% for ventilated patients who do not develop VAP. In addition, VAP prolongs time spent on the ventilator, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and length of hospital stay. ⋯ Implementing the IHI VAP bundle significantly resulted in the reduction of the VAP rate with potential great cost avoidance.
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Urinary catheters are the major cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and often may be unnecessary. We attempted to reduce the number of CAUTIs by limiting the use of urinary catheters. ⋯ Limiting urinary catheter use can reduce the incidence of CAUTI with no deterioration in nursing satisfaction.