American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Mar 2015
Keyboard cleanliness: a controlled study of the residual effect of chlorhexidine gluconate.
A controlled trial of once daily cleaning of computer keyboards in an intensive care unit was performed comparing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate-70% isopropyl alcohol (CHG) and a chlorine dioxide-based product used as a standard in our hospital. A study before and after the introduction of once daily keyboard cleaning with CHG in the wider hospital was also completed. Cleaning with CHG showed a sustained and significant reduction in bacterial colony forming units compared with the chlorine dioxide-based product, demonstrating its unique advantage of maintaining continuous keyboard cleanliness over time.
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Am J Infect Control · Mar 2015
Oral hygiene protocols in intensive care units in a large Brazilian city.
This study investigated oral hygiene protocols for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in 25 of 30 hospitals in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, using a questionnaire. Although all hospital representatives said there was a protocol for the maintenance of patients' oral hygiene, it was observed that there was no standardization. Only 2 hospitals had dentists on the ICU staff. Cetylpyridinium chloride was the most frequently used antiseptic, even in patients under mechanical ventilation.
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Am J Infect Control · Feb 2015
Differences between novel and conventional surveillance paradigms of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
To investigate the concordance between novel and conventional surveillance paradigms for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ In our study population, novel VAE surveillance only detected one-third of conventional VAP cases. Thus, more studies are needed to further validate VAE surveillance compared with conventional VAP by using strong microbiologic criteria, particularly bronchoalveolar lavage with a protected specimen brush for diagnosing VAP.
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Am J Infect Control · Jan 2015
Collateral benefit of screening patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at hospital admission: isolation of patients with multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria.
Surveillance at hospital admission for multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria (GNB) is not often performed, potentially leaving patients carrying these organisms unrecognized and not placed in transmission precautions until they develop infection. Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities screen all admissions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and place positive patients in contact precautions. We assessed how often patients with MDR GNB in clinical cultures obtained within 30 days following admission would have been in contact precautions because of a positive MRSA admission screen. ⋯ Patients may be serendipitously placed in contact precautions for MDR GNB when isolated for a positive admission MRSA screen.