American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Nov 2006
Evaluation of immunity against rubella in Iranian after mass campaign for measles-rubella vaccination on December 2003.
Prevention of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is the main goal of rubella immunization. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries undertaking measles elimination should take the opportunity to eliminate rubella as well through use of measles-rubella (MR) or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in their childhood immunization programs and campaigns. On December 2003, during a mass campaign for measles-rubella vaccination in Iran, more than 33 million doses of vaccine were administered to 5- to 25-year-old males and females. ⋯ Findings revealed that mass vaccination in December 2003 provided appropriate immune coverage among vaccinees. Also, rubella vaccine induced favorable immunity in a part of the childbearing age female (15-25 years) population, which could prevent congenital rubella syndrome among those females.
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Am J Infect Control · Oct 2006
Translating evidence into practice to prevent central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections: a systems-based intervention.
The central venous catheter (CVC) is a necessary, yet inherently risky, modern medical device. We aimed to carry out a systems-based intervention designed to facilitate the use of maximal sterile barrier precautions and the use of chlorhexidine for skin antisepsis during insertion of CVC. ⋯ Infection control interventions that rely on voluntary changes in human behavior, despite the best intentions of us all, are often unsuccessful. We have demonstrated that a systems-based intervention led to a sustained decrease in the CVC-associated BSI rate, thereby resulting in improved patient safety and decreased cost of care.
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Am J Infect Control · Oct 2006
Effectiveness of preemptive barrier precautions in controlling nosocomial colonization and infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a burn unit.
We report the effectiveness of preemptive enhanced barrier precautions in containing a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak in a university hospital burn unit and further controlling endemic nosocomial MRSA infection in the unit during the succeeding 27 months. ⋯ Preemptive barrier precautions were highly effective in controlling the outbreak and, most notably, have also been highly effective in maintaining a very low incidence of nosocomial MRSA infection endemically in the succeeding 27 months of follow-up. Use of clean gloves, with or without a gown, bears consideration for all high-risk hospitalized patients to prevent cross transmission of all multiresistant nosocomial pathogens.
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Am J Infect Control · Sep 2006
Multicenter StudyThe establishment of a statewide surveillance program for hospital-acquired infections in large Victorian public hospitals: a report from the VICNISS Coordinating Centre.
A 1998 survey of acute Victorian public hospitals (VPH) revealed that surveillance of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) was underdeveloped, definitions and methodology varied considerably, and results disseminated inconsistently. The survey identified the need for an effective surveillance system for HAI. ⋯ A standardized approach for surveillance of HAI was established in a short time frame in over 28 VPH. VICNISS is a tool that will continue to provide participating hospitals with a basis for continuous quality improvement.
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Am J Infect Control · Aug 2006
Are antiseptic-coated central venous catheters effective in a real-world setting?
Catheter-related bloodstream infections are common, costly, and morbid. Randomized controlled trials indicate that antiseptic-coated central venous catheters reduce infection rates. ⋯ Antiseptic-coated catheters appear to be clinically effective and economically efficient in a real-world setting.