Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Sep 2001
Contamination of gowns, gloves, and stethoscopes with vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
[corrected] To measure directly the rate of contamination, during routine patient examination, of gowns, gloves, and stethoscopes with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). ⋯ Our study revealed a high rate of examiner contamination with VRE. The similar risk of contamination identified by surveillance and clinical cases reinforces concerns that patients not known to be colonized with VRE could serve as sources for dissemination. Wiping with alcohol is effective in decontaminating stethoscopes.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Aug 2001
Incidence and predictors of surgical-site infections in Vietnam.
To determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, surgical-site infections (SSIs). ⋯ There was a higher incidence of SSI in low-risk patients in Vietnam compared with developed countries. Excessive reliance on antimicrobial therapy as a means to limit SSI places patients at higher risk of adverse effects from treatment and also may contribute to worsening problems with antimicrobial resistance. Establishment of an infection control program with guidelines for antimicrobial use should improve the use of prophylactic antibiotics and attention to proper surgical and wound-care techniques. These interventions also should reduce the incidence of SSI and its associated morbidity and costs.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jun 2001
HACCP and food hygiene in hospitals: knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food-services staff in Calabria, Italy. Collaborative Group.
To determine adherence to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) methods and to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food-services staff with regard to food hygiene in hospitals. ⋯ Full implementation of the HACCP system and infection control policies in hospital food services is needed.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · May 2001
Outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.
We report an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection in the neonatal intensive care unit of a community hospital. The outbreak involved eight neonates, (five infected and three colonized), one of whom died. ⋯ Cohorting and isolation of the infected neonates helped to control the outbreak. No environmental source of infection was found.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Apr 2001
ReviewA review of single-use and reusable gowns and drapes in health care.
Gowns and drapes are used widely in healthcare facilities. Gowns have been used to minimize the risk of disease acquisition by healthcare providers, to reduce the risk of patient-to-patient transmission, and during invasive procedures to aid in maintaining a sterile field. Drapes have been used during invasive procedures to maintain the sterility of environmental surfaces, equipment, and patients. ⋯ While appropriate use of drapes during invasive procedures is recommended widely as an aid in minimizing contamination of the operative field, the efficacy of this practice in reducing surgical-site infections has not been assessed by scientific studies. Based on an evaluation of the functional requirements, environmental impact, and economics of gowns and drapes, clear superiority of either reusable or single-use gowns and drapes cannot be demonstrated. The selection of particular gowns and drapes by individual healthcare facilities requires an assessment of the facility's requirements, available products, and costs and should be based on the desired characteristics of an ideal gown or drape as defined in this paper.