The Journal of hospital infection
-
Serious infections are often treated by paediatricians with parenteral antibiotics. Traditionally, patients receiving parenteral treatment are hospitalized. ⋯ The present article discusses the potential benefits of outpatient treatment of serious paediatric infections, together with the logistic approach for such treatment. Outpatient treatment for serious paediatric infections may provide an excellent medical treatment that both reduces costs and increases the patient's quality of life.
-
Because of the increasing numbers of immunosuppressed patients and the general resurgence of mycobacterial infection, diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using a fibreoptic bronchoscope is an important and frequent procedure. A contaminated bronchoscope may introduce spurious mycobacteria into specimens causing diagnostic confusion, infect the patient with mycobacteria, or be a vehicle for cross-infection. ⋯ Future solutions to prevent contamination include the regular maintenance of bronchoscopes and washers, having adequate cleaning and disinfection protocols and ensuring that they are adhered to, improving bronchoscope and washer design, and developing alternative disinfectants or new ways of using current ones. All these will probably have considerable cost implications for hospitals.