The Journal of hospital infection
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The non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) Mycobacterium wolinskyi caused bacteraemia and massive colonization of an aortic prosthesis in a patient 16 days after cardiac surgery, necessitating repeat surgery and targeted antimicrobial chemotherapy. The infection control team investigated the source and conditions of infection. ⋯ The environmental investigation showed that although M. wolinskyi was not recovered, diverse NTM species were present in water from point-of-use taps and heater-cooler units for extracorporeal circulation. This case and increasing evidence of emerging NTM infections in cardiac surgery led to the implementation of infection control procedures in cardiac surgery wards.
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Dry hospital environments are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria in biofilms, which suggests that current cleaning practices and disinfectants are failing. ⋯ Hypochlorite exposure led to a 7-log kill but the organisms regrew. No resistance mutations occurred, implying that hypochlorite resistance is an intrinsic property of S. aureus biofilms. The clinical significance of this warrants further study.
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With epidemic strains of Clostridium difficile posing a substantial healthcare burden internationally, there is a need for longitudinal evaluation of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) events in Australia. ⋯ A low incidence of HA-CDI was reported in Victoria compared with US/European surveillance reports. Seasonality was evident, together with diminishing HA-CDI rates in 2012-2014. Severe infections were more common in CA-CDI, supporting future enhanced surveillance in community settings.
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Point-prevalence studies can identify priorities for infection control. ⋯ In areas with limited personnel and resources, regular investigation of the point prevalence of HCAIs can be performed in lieu of comprehensive monitoring to elucidate risk factors and disease burdens of HCAIs.