Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2012
Infection prevention promotion program based on the PRECEDE model: improving hand hygiene behaviors among healthcare personnel.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) result in significant morbidity and mortality. Hand hygiene remains a cornerstone intervention for preventing HAIs. Unfortunately, adherence to hand hygiene guidelines among healthcare personnel is poor. ⋯ Implementation of the infection prevention promotion program was associated with a significant and sustained increase in hand hygiene practices among healthcare personnel of various disciplines.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyUltraviolet powder versus ultraviolet gel for assessing environmental cleaning.
We compared cleaning rates associated with use of a white ultraviolet (UV) powder versus a transparent UV gel among units with various degrees of previous experience with UV powder. The study outcome was the presence of discordant cleaning (removal of powder without the removal of gel, or vice versa). ⋯ In 92% of discordant findings, the powder was removed but not the gel (P < .001). These findings suggest preferential cleaning of visible UV targets among units with high levels of previous experience with powder.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of selective digestive decontamination using oral gentamicin and oral polymyxin E for eradication of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae carriage.
To assess the effectiveness of selective digestive decontamination (SDD) for eradicating carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal carriage. ⋯ This SDD regimen could be a suitable decolonization therapy for selected patients colonized with CRKP, such as transplant recipients or immunocompromised patients pending chemotherapy and patients who require major intestinal or oropharyngeal surgery. Moreover, in outbreaks caused by CRKP infections that are uncontrolled by routine infection control measures, SDD could provide additional infection containment.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jan 2012
Use of Medicare diagnosis and procedure codes to improve detection of surgical site infections following hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, and vascular surgery.
To evaluate the use of routinely collected electronic health data in Medicare claims to identify surgical site infections (SSIs) following hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, and vascular surgery. ⋯ Claims-based SSI surveillance markedly increased the number of SSIs detected following hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, and vascular surgery. It deserves consideration as a more effective approach to target chart reviews for identifying SSIs.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jan 2012
Association between contact precautions and delirium at a tertiary care center.
To investigate the relationship between contact precautions and delirium among inpatients, adjusting for other factors. ⋯ Although delirium was more common in patients who were newly placed under contact precautions during the course of their hospital admission, delirium was not associated with contact precautions started at hospital admission. Patients newly placed under contact precautions after admission but during hospitalization appear to be at a higher risk and may benefit from proven delirium-prevention strategies.