The Journal of hospital infection
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The impact of high level cephalosporin resistance due to Enterobacteriaceae harbouring a type I-inducible chromosomal β-lactamase on the outcome of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains unknown. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in two intensive care units (ICUs) over a four-year period to identify factors prognostic of VAP caused by high level AmpC (HL-AmpC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The study included 75 patients, who developed VAP due to Enterobacteriaceae harbouring a type I-inducible chromosomal β-lactamase. ⋯ Enterobacter spp. were the major HL-AmpC-producing micro-organisms responsible for VAP. VAP due to HL-AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae is rare. High level cephalosporin resistance was not associated with higher day 28 mortality, despite its association with more severe disease at VAP onset.
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This study analysed the clinical characteristics of bacteraemia due to unusual Citrobacter species. All non-freundii and non-koseri Citrobacter isolates were identified to species level by two commercial identification methods and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A total of 306 patients with Citrobacter spp. bacteraemia were identified from January 2000 through December 2009. ⋯ An attributable mortality was 33.3%. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the resistance patterns varied among different Citrobacter species. Non-freundii and non-koseri Citrobacter species are difficult to identify and are a rare cause of intra-abdominal infections with secondary healthcare-associated bacteraemia in immunocompromised patients.
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Hand hygiene is considered to be the single most effective measure to prevent healthcare-associated infection. Although there have been several reports on hand hygiene compliance, data on patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms in special isolation conditions are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a prospective observational study of indications for, and compliance with, hand hygiene in patients colonised or infected with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteria in surgical intensive and intermediate care units. ⋯ This study is the first to provide data on hand hygiene in patients with MDR bacteria and includes a comparison of observed and calculated compliance. Compliance is low in patients under special isolation conditions, even for the indications of greatest impact in preventing healthcare-associated infections. These data may help to focus measures to reduce transmission of MDR bacteria and improve patient safety.