Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jul 1994
Comparative StudyViewpoint: survival benefit by selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD).
Morbidity and mortality due to infection acquired either before or after admission to the intensive care unit is still a major problem. A limited range of potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPM) are involved, and infection with these PPM usually follows a predictable pattern. Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) should be investigated further in patients with primarily curable diseases who are not infected on admission to intensive care but become infected there.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Apr 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPrevention of central venous catheter-related infections by using maximal sterile barrier precautions during insertion.
In many hospitals, the only sterile precautions used during the insertion of a nontunneled central venous catheter are sterile gloves and small sterile drapes. We investigated whether the use of maximal sterile barrier (consisting of mask, cap, sterile gloves, gown, and large drape) would lower the risk of acquiring catheter-related infections. ⋯ Maximal sterile barrier precautions during the insertion of nontunneled catheters reduce the risk of catheter infection. This practice is cost-effective and is consistent with the practice of universal precautions during an invasive procedure.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Apr 1994
Multicenter StudyRisk factors for central venous catheter-related infections in surgical and intensive care units. The Central Venous Catheter-Related Infections Study Group.
To identify avoidable risk factors for central venous catheter (CVC) infections in patients undergoing short-term catheterization. ⋯ Skin and hub colonization are the two major determinants for endemic CRIs; colonization of the hub, however, is more frequently associated with more severe infections. In order to reduce CRIs, more efforts should be focused on understanding which factors increase the risk of colonization both of the skin and of the hub.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Mar 1994
Review Practice Guideline GuidelineQuality standard for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgical procedures. The Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The objectives of this quality standard are 1) to provide an implementation mechanism that will facilitate the reliable administration of prophylactic antimicrobial agents to patients undergoing operative procedures in which such a practice is judged to be beneficial and 2) to provide a guideline that will help local hospital committees formulate policies and set up mechanisms for their implementation. Although standards in the medical literature spell out recommendations for specific procedures, agents, schedules, and doses, other reports document that these standards frequently are not followed in practice. ⋯ The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the Clinical Affairs Committee of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) developed the standard. The subcommittee was composed of representatives of the IDSA (Drs. Gross and McGowan), the Society for Hospital Epidemiology of America (Dr. Wenzel), the Surgical Infection Society (Dr. Dellinger), the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society (Dr. Krause), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Dr. Martone), the Obstetrics and Gynecology Infectious Diseases Society (Dr. Sweet), and the Association of Practitioners of Infection Contr
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Mar 1994
Review Practice Guideline GuidelineQuality standard for the treatment of bacteremia. The Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The objective of this quality standard is to optimize the treatment of bacteremia in hospitalized patients by ensuring that the antibiotic given is appropriate in terms of the blood culture susceptibility of the pathogen. Although this standard may appear to be minimal in scope, it is needed because appropriate antimicrobial treatment is not given in 5% to 17% of cases. To implement the standard, physicians, pharmacists, and microbiologists will need to devise a coordinated strategy. ⋯ The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the Clinical Affairs Committee of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) developed the standard. The subcommittee was composed of representatives of the IDSA (Drs. Gross and McGowan), the Society for Hospital Epidemiology of America (Dr. Wenzel), the Surgical Infection Society (Dr. Dellinger), the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (Dr. Krause), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Dr. Martone), the Obstetrics and Gynecology Infectious Diseases Society (Dr. Sweet), and the Association of Practitioners of Infection Control (Ms. Barrett). Funding was provided by the IDSA and the other cooperating organizations. This standard is endorsed by the IDSA.