American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · May 2006
Surgical site infection in patients submitted to digestive surgery: risk prediction and the NNIS risk index.
Some problems have been reported with the power of the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) risk index to predict the risk of surgical site infections (SSI) for specific procedures. ⋯ The presence of obesity, adjusted duration, and surgery risk significantly increased the risk for SSI. The NNIS risk index was not significant for SSI in the sample studied, and laparoscopic access was associated with a significant reduction in the risk for SSI. Although the NNIS index is a well-known and simple index, other models depicting variables related to SSI with a better sensitivity and specificity can be developed. Additional studies are required to confirm our results.
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2006
Consideration of age at admission for selective screening to identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers to control dissemination in a medical ward.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become an increasingly important pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections. Our study was to evaluate the efficiency of our selective screening program for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers at admission to nonintensive care units. ⋯ Adding patients >80 years of age to our PRC definition would increase screening sensitivity (15 carriers identified for 128 patients sampled) and would enable early implementation of barrier precautions for the additional carriers identified.
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Am J Infect Control · Apr 2006
Multicenter StudyFactors associated with personal protection equipment use and hand hygiene among hemodialysis staff.
Because exposure to blood by health care workers is frequent during hemodialysis, gloves are required for all contact with patients and their equipment, followed by hand hygiene. In this study, we investigated factors associated with performing these practices as recommended. ⋯ Compliance with recommended hand hygiene and glove use practices by hemodialysis staff was low. The rationale for infection control practices specific to the hemodialysis setting was poorly understood by all staff. Infection control training should be tailored to this setting and should address misconceptions.
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Am J Infect Control · Mar 2006
Multicenter StudyImpact of an infection control program on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units in 2 Argentinean hospitals.
Hospitalized, critically ill patients have a significant risk of developing nosocomial infection. Most episodes of nosocomial pneumonia occur in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV). ⋯ Implementation of a multicomponent infection control program in Argentinean ICUs was associated with significant reductions in rates of VAP.