Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Two pilot studies were conducted to produce efficacy data on an observational tool designed to assess the use of Universal Precautions (UP) in patient care settings. The instrument addresses barrier precautions, hand-washing, handling of sharps, and avoidance of unprotected mouth to mouth resuscitation. ⋯ The instrument has acceptable interrater reliability under the conditions used. Limitations to use include the possibility of a Hawthorne effect and the fact that assessing proper implementation of UP occasionally relies on a "judgment call" by the observer. With test conditions adjusted to minimize these limitations and with proper consideration of sample size, the tool can be used by researchers and by monitors of hospital quality control to measure UP compliance of caregivers individually or collectively.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Sep 1991
Microbial growth and endotoxin production in the intravenous anesthetic propofol.
In this study, we measured microbial growth and endotoxin production in the intravenous anesthetic propofol using 10 different microbial strains; 6 isolated from outbreak cases and 4 from laboratory stock cultures. ⋯ Propofol can support rapid microbial growth and endotoxin production. To avoid infectious complications, scrupulous aseptic technique should be used when preparing or administering this anesthetic.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Dec 1989
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialMicrobial contamination of arterial infusions used for hemodynamic monitoring: a randomized trial of contamination with sampling through conventional stopcocks versus a novel closed system.
Arterial catheters are now commonly used to monitor blood pressure and obtain blood samples for arterial blood gas and other laboratory determinations. Stopcocks inserted into the pressure monitoring circuit have been the primary means of obtaining blood from arterial catheters. However, these stopcock systems have been associated with nosocomial contamination and bacteremias. ⋯ We found that use of the novel sampling system resulted in significantly fewer episodes of internal bacterial contamination of the arterial monitoring line (7%) than did the use of a stopcock system (61%). External contamination of the sampling port was also lower in the novel system (8%) than in the stopcock system (37%). This suggests that the closed system may reduce the risk of nosocomial infections in patients requiring arterial pressure monitoring.