Showing papers in "American Journal of Infection Control in 2003"

TL;DR: This material is being published simultaneously in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and the American Journal ofinfection Control.

TL;DR: High rates of needlestick injuries and low vaccination coverage contribute highly to the rates of viral hepatitis infections among HCWs in Egypt.

TL;DR: Patients with central venous catheter-associated BSI experienced significant prolongation of hospitalization, increased use of health care costs, and a higher attributable mortality in Argentina, and these findings support the need to implement preventative interventions for patients hospitalized with central Venous catheters in Argentina.

TL;DR: Whether patients who are hospitalized and placed under contact precautions are examined less often by second- and third-year medical residents (ie, senior medical residents), and attending physicians during morning rounds is assessed.

TL;DR: High rates of nosocomial infections in ICUs in Argentina are found, associated with a considerable attributable mortality and excess length of hospital stay.

TL;DR: Implementation of an infection control program, using education and performance feedback, resulted in significant reductions in rates of IVD-associated bloodstream infection (BSI).

TL;DR: It is suggested that visual assessment is a poor indicator of cleaning efficacy and that the ACE audit gives a better assessment of cleaning programs compared with the other 2 audit methods in relation to microbial surface counts.

TL;DR: Hand-hygiene practices were improved with increased frequency of handwashing through increasing awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, and the use of alcohol gel hand sanitizer in university dormitories, which resulted in fewer upper respiratory-illness symptoms, lower illness rates, and lower absenteeism.

TL;DR: HW policies and education of HCW significantly improved HCW adherence to the HW protocol, however, when performance feedback was incorporated, the HW compliance increased to a greater degree.

TL;DR: It is indicated that use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer can decrease infection rates and provide an additional tool for an effective infection control program in acute care facilities.

TL;DR: The results showed that the ability of P aeruginosa to survive in the presence of triclosan concentrations in excess of 1,000 microg/mL is solely attributable to the expression of efflux pumps.

TL;DR: Studies conducted in day care centers, long-term care facilities, and laboratories show that disinfectants containing a variety of active ingredients demonstrated efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogens and interrupted microbial transmission and that the use of disinfectants results in public health benefits.

TL;DR: Medical students have a high risk for needlestick injuries, and attention should be directed to protection strategies against bloodborne pathogens.

TL;DR: The findings show the ability of a new silver-based disinfectant to reduce bacterial populations that contact treated surfaces within minutes, highlight the potential to interrupt cross-contamination from environmental surfaces, and reduce the risk of infection within the home and health care settings.

TL;DR: Within a few months of implementation of the waste-management plan, the amount of medical waste was reduced by more than 58%, and this demonstrates that effective waste management can reduce health risk, save money, and protect the environment.

TL;DR: Five years after the introduction of KISS many hospitals have introduced continuous surveillance activities whereby the various definitions and methods have attained wide acceptance and has lead to much better understanding and cooperation between clinicians and infection control personnel in preventing nosocomial infections.

TL;DR: There were deficits in the identified components of effective infection control programs and greater investment in resources is needed to meet recommended standards and thereby reduce morbidity, mortality, and expense associated with nosocomial infections and antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

TL;DR: Dry-coated AV gloves that provide for gradual delivery of AV gel to skin produced a uniformly positive outcome of improved skin integrity, decreased appearance of fine wrinkling, and decreased erythema in the management of occupational dry skin and irritant contact dermatitis.

TL;DR: These results have implications for the development of multifaceted perioperative infection control programs, including strategies for prevention, education, and policy development, to improve practices aimed at reducing occupational exposures among this high-risk group of nurses.

TL;DR: Glove use increases compliance with hand disinfection and isolation precautions do not increase compliance, and a statistically significant, positive association between glove use and subsequent hand disinfections is found.

TL;DR: In this article, a 23-year-old female nurse splashed blood from a patient who was anti-HCV positive into her eyes, and reported to the infection control department.

TL;DR: It is indicated that zig-zag transfer of bacteria between paper-towel dispensers and hands can take place if either one is contaminated, and this potential should be considered in the design, construction, and use of paper- Tournaisian dispensers.

TL;DR: Substantial bacterial colony counts were found on a female bathroom sink faucet and toilet seat confirming the need for programs to increase handwashing compliance and exploiting the influence of peer pressure on handwashing.

TL;DR: Widespread improvements in procedures and engineering controls were implemented in the Northern France network before and during the study period, and significant reductions were observed in reports of BBF exposures and NSIs, particularly in nurses.

TL;DR: A series of decision models with patient-level clinical trial data suggest that central venous catheters coated with minocycline/rifampin are cost-effective for patients catheterized for at least 1 week and lead to overall cost savings when patients are catheterization for 2 weeks or longer.

TL;DR: An examination of the adenosine triphosphate (a measure of residual organic soil), bacterial, and staphylococcal load on ward handwash station surfaces, which could be touched during handwashing, is reported and the results are discussed within the context of microbial cross-contamination and potential pathogen spread.

TL;DR: It is clearly demonstrated by this study that patients with ports used for the administration of TPN had a significantly greater chance of developing infection from the Candida species, and it is safe and cost-effective to change exit-site needles and transparent dressings every 7 days.

TL;DR: HIV and HCV transmission from the patient to the HCW appears to have occurred through nonintact skin exposure, and bloodborne pathogen transmission may have been prevented in this situation by consistent, unfailing use of barrier precautions.

TL;DR: The development of strategies and concepts to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections is cost-effective and warranted, and an appropriate surveillance system on the basis of international criteria is the cornerstone for this task.