Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Mar 2009
Nosocomial outbreak of infection with pan-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a tertiary care university hospital.
To describe what is, to our knowledge, the first nosocomial outbreak of infection with pan-drug-resistant (including colistin-resistant) Acinetobacter baumannii, to determine the risk factors associated with these types of infections, and to determine their clinical impact. ⋯ We were not able to identify the common source for these cases of infection, but the adopted measures have proven to be effective at controlling the outbreak.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Mar 2009
Evaluation of the effectiveness of common hospital hand disinfectants against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus, and heterogeneous glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus.
The presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA) in hospitals poses a significant challenge to hospital infection control teams. The use of disinfectants for both surface and hand cleaning is an essential part of the infection control measures. ⋯ Using the EN 1040 standard criteria for the performance of disinfectants, we determined that all agents, except 50% Aquasept for hGISA and 0.33% hexachlorophene for GISA, performed effectively. However, the GISA and hGISA strains were less susceptible to triclosan-containing products, compared with the MRSA stains, but were more susceptible to products containing Betadine.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2009
Multicenter StudyAcquisition and cross-transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in European intensive care units.
To study the acquisition and cross-transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in different intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ Colonization pressure, the number of beds per nurse, and the treatment of all patients in private rooms correlated with the number of S. aureus acquisitions on an ICU. The amount of hand disinfectant used was correlated with the number of cases of MSSA acquisition but not with the number of cases of MRSA acquisition. The number of cases of patient-to-patient cross-transmission was comparable for MSSA and MRSA.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2009
Recovery of both vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from culture of a single clinical specimen from colonized or infected patients.
To describe the incidence of recovery of both vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from culture of a single clinical specimen, to describe the clinical characteristics of patients from whom these specimens were recovered, and to identify the risk factors of these patients. ⋯ We confirmed that the recovery of VRE and MRSA from a single clinical specimen occurs continually. Because prolonged cell-to-cell contact can facilitate transfer of vanA, close observation and surveillance for vancomycin-resistant S. aureus, especially among patients with risk factors for the recovery of both VRE and MRSA from a single clinical specimen, should be continued.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Feb 2009
Risk factors associated with surgical site infection after pediatric posterior spinal fusion procedure.
To identify risk factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) after pediatric posterior spinal fusion procedure by examining characteristics related to the patient, the surgical procedure, and tissue hypoxia. ⋯ An ASA score greater than 2, obesity, and antibiotic prophylaxis with clindamycin were independent risk factors for SSI. Hypothermia during surgery appears to provide protection against SSI in this patient population.