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 2010
Successful implementation of the World Health Organization hand hygiene improvement strategy in a referral hospital in Mali, Africa.
To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the World Health Organization hand hygiene improvement strategy in a low-income African country. ⋯ Multimodal hand hygiene promotion is feasible and effective in a low-income country. Access to handrub was critical for its success. These findings motivated the government of Mali to expand the intervention nationwide. This experience represents a significant advancement for patient safety in developing countries.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2010
Blood culture contamination rates after skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine gluconate versus povidone-iodine in a pediatric emergency department.
To determine blood culture contamination rates after skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine, compared with povidone-iodine. ⋯ Skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine significantly reduces the blood culture contamination rate among young children, as compared with povidone-iodine.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2010
Hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections at Texas Children's Hospital, 2001-2007.
To document the introduction of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) USA300 clone into a children's hospital. Current molecular epidemiology of infections due to the USA300 strain of MRSA in the pediatric healthcare setting remains obscure. ⋯ In our patient population, the annual numbers of observed cases of hospital-acquired S. aureus infection have remained constant. USA300 was the most common clone and, compared with other non-USA300 MRSA isolates, was associated with skin and soft tissue infection, early onset of infection after admission, and greater susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jan 2010
How soon should patients with smear-positive tuberculosis be released from inpatient isolation?
In patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis who are hospitalized or reside in congregate settings, guidelines recommend airborne infection isolation until sputum smear results are negative. Studies have identified factors associated with delayed sputum smear and culture conversion in patients with tuberculosis. Because these studies did not use methods of survival analysis, estimates of time to sputum smear conversion that are based on initial patient characteristics are not available. The ability to predict time to sputum smear conversion could be useful for programmatic planning and patient counseling. ⋯ Initial smear grade was the strongest predictor of time to sputum smear and culture conversion in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and may be a useful predictor for programmatic planning and patient counseling.
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This report examines patterns of influenza vaccination among preclinical and clinical medical students. We used an anonymous online survey to examine medical student behavior and knowledge. Students on clinical rotations, women, and students with better knowledge about the vaccine were more likely to receive the vaccine.