Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Dec 2007
Multicenter StudyDoes catheter-associated urinary tract infection increase mortality in critically ill patients?
To produce an accurate estimate of the association between catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality, controlling for major confounding factors. ⋯ After carefully controlling for confounding factors, catheter-associated UTI was not found to be associated with excess mortality among our population of critically ill patients in either the ICU or the hospital.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Nov 2007
Multicenter StudyEpidemiologic, clinical, and economic evaluation of an outbreak of clonal multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in a surgical intensive care unit.
To determine risk factors for acquisition of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii infection during an outbreak, to describe the clinical manifestations of infection, and to ascertain the cost of infection. ⋯ This large outbreak of infection due to clonal MDR A. baumannii caused significant morbidity and expense. Aerosolization of MDR A. baumannii during pulsatile lavage debridement of infected wounds and during the management of respiratory secretions from colonized and infected patients may promote widespread environmental contamination. Multifaceted infection control interventions were associated with a decrease in the number of MDR A. baumannii isolates recovered from patients.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Oct 2007
Multicenter StudyDecreasing airborne contamination levels in high-risk hospital areas using a novel mobile air-treatment unit.
To evaluate the performance of a new mobile air-treatment unit that uses nonthermal-plasma reactors for lowering the airborne bioburden in critical hospital environments and reducing the risk of nosocomial infection due to opportunistic airborne pathogens, such as Aspergillus fumigatus. ⋯ Our data indicate that the mobile, nonthermal-plasma air treatment unit tested in this study can rapidly reduce the levels of airborne particles and significantly lower the airborne bioburden in high-risk hospital environments.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Sep 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyValue of whole-body washing with chlorhexidine for the eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.
Whole-body washing with antiseptic solution has been widely used as part of eradication treatment for colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but evidence for the effectiveness of this measure is limited. ⋯ Whole-body washing can reduce skin colonization, but it appears necessary to extend eradication measures to the gastrointestinal tract, wounds, and/or other colonized body sites if complete eradication is the goal.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Apr 2007
Multicenter StudyRisk factors for death due to nosocomial infection in intensive care unit patients: findings from the Krankenhaus Infektions Surveillance System.
To determine risk factors for death among patients with nosocomial pneumonia and patients with primary bloodstream infections (BSI) in intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ The study results underline the need for further investigations of the role of antimicrobial resistance in the outcome of patients with nosocomial pneumonia and patients with primary BSI.