Abstract:
BACKGROUND:The prevalence of nosocomial infection in Australian hospitals is estimated to be between 5.5% and 6.3%. Since 1989, infection control professionals (ICPs) in hospitals accredited by the Australian Council on Health Care Standards (ACHS) have been encouraged to collect nosocomial infection data according to ACHS methodology. METHOD:In 1996, we surveyed members of the Australian Infection Control Association to examine the time spent on surveillance, the practice of surveillance of all hospital infections (hospital-wide surveillance), case-finding methods, case definitions, and reporting routinely used by ICPs in acute care hospitals. We also examined the ICPs' education and experience in infection control (IC). RESULTS:The survey was completed and returned by 65% (644 of 993) of Australian Infection Control Association members. Of the ICPs who completed the survey, 47.8% (308 of 644; 95% CI, 43.9%-51.7%) met the criteria for inclusion, because they coordinated an IC program in an acute care or surgical hospital and performed surveillance for either surgical wound infection, intravascular device-related bacteremia, or non-device-related bacteremia. Of the ICPs who reported their facility's accreditation status, 93.5% participated in ACHS system. Most (97.6%) ICPs had completed hospital-based general registered nurse training. Only 1.9% (6 of 308) of ICPs reported completion of continuing education relating to hospital epidemiology. The number of years of IC experience ranged from zero to 35 years, with a median of 4 years. ICPs spent a substantial proportion of their total weekly IC time on surveillance irrespective of ACHS accreditation; 19.5 hours in ACHS hospitals and 15.6 hours in non-ACHS hospitals (P =.33). More than three quarters (76.0%) of ICPs performed hospital-wide surveillance. The case-finding methods, definitions of infections, and reporting formats varied greatly. The definition most commonly applied by ICPs (6.8%; 95% CI, 4.1%-10.4%) to define surgical wound infection was infection within 30 days after the operative procedure, plus purulent drainage, plus isolation of organisms from a culture from the incision site, plus diagnosis by a medical officer. A 5-item definition of a patient being asymptomatic, plus afebrile on admission, plus infection occurring at least 48 hours after admission, plus the patient having a fever of >38 degrees C, plus a recognized culture from one or more bottles was used by 15.7% (95% CI, 11.3%-21.0%) of ICPs to define a case of bacteremia. CONCLUSION:Surveillance is the core business of Australian ICPs and consumes a substantial proportion of their time. The importance of surveillance, the epidemiologic limitations of the current ACHS system, and the nonstandard methods we report indicate that improved methodology is required for case finding and reporting of nosocomial infections. Australian ICPs should complete training in the principles of surveillance and epidemiology. With this training, ICPs can work collaboratively with other health care professionals to develop epidemiologically sound, local, nosocomial surveillance systems and lobby for a voluntary, national, standardized, risk-adjusted system of targeted nosocomial surveillance.
journal_name
Am J Infect Controljournal_title
American journal of infection controlauthors
Murphy CL,McLaws MLdoi
10.1016/s0196-6553(99)70024-6subject
Has Abstractpub_date
1999-12-01 00:00:00pages
474-81issue
6eissn
0196-6553issn
1527-3296pii
S0196-6553(99)70024-6journal_volume
27pub_type
杂志文章abstract:BACKGROUND:Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common nosocomial infection experienced by patients in United States hospitals and are responsible for significant morbidity and excess hospital costs. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a silver alloy, hydrogel-coated, urinary catheter in ...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2004.05.002
更新日期:2004-12-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Since the introduction in the 1970s of surgical hand scrub formulations that contain 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), new surgical scrub formulations that have improved efficacy, persistence, or significantly improved use characteristics have not been forthcoming. In addition, the manufacturer's labeling fo...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0196-6553(98)70024-0
更新日期:1998-10-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Current recommendations for the prevention of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSIs) are mostly based on data from intensive care units (ICUs). The rates of CA-BSIs appear to be higher in non-ICU wards. Until this year, no published data were available on non-ICU CA-BSIs in the U...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2008.10.005
更新日期:2008-12-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Surgical site infections increase the morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with surgical care. An estimated 96.2 million surgical procedures are performed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) each year. This pilot study assessed the steam sterilization aspect of the surgical instrument reprocess...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章,多中心研究
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.06.025
更新日期:2015-11-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The number and significance of tuberculin skin test reactions were compared with self-reported baseline values among house staff working in a public hospital. High-risk medical specialties, locations, and infection control practices were examined. METHODS:House staff interviews, tuberculin skin test applica...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0196-6553(96)90047-4
更新日期:1996-02-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has taken a heavy toll on human life and has upended the medical system in many countries. The disease has created a system wide worsening shortage of N95, medical masks, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) that is regularly used by healthcare person...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.07.022
更新日期:2020-07-28 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) programs are increasing in popularity, but it is unknown to what extent therapy animal organizations that provide AAI and the hospitals and eldercare facilities they work with implement effective animal health and safety policies to ensure safety of both animals and humans....
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.04.287
更新日期:2017-08-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:At the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, there is increasing use of an electronic medical record. Because orthopedic surgeons dictate all outpatient visits to the patient's electronic record, total knee arthroplasties were chosen to determine whether the use of electronic medical records i...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1067/mic.2001.114401
更新日期:2001-10-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogenic S aureus strain characteristic associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality. The health care system needs to understand MRSA transmissibility in all settings to improve basic preventive measures to generate sustained reductions i...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章,随机对照试验
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.11.002
更新日期:2018-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::This study explored the self-reported behaviors and perceptions of Australian paramedics in relation to their environmental hygiene practices. A national online survey was conducted with Paramedics Australasia members (N = 417). Participants reported working in ambulances often contaminated with body fluids. Widesprea...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.11.007
更新日期:2018-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:In the United States incidence of sepsis and pneumonia differ by race, but it is unclear whether this is due to intrinsic factors or health care factors. METHODS:We conducted a study of 52,006 patients hospitalized during 2006-2008 at a referral hospital in upper Manhattan. We examined how the prevalence of...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2014.08.019
更新日期:2014-12-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is one of the most important health care-associated infections in the critical care setting. METHODS:A quasiexperimental study involving multiple interventions to reduce the incidence of CLABSI was conducted in a medical-surgical intensive care unit (IC...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2009.11.012
更新日期:2010-08-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Nursing has been called for greater participation in antibiotic stewardship. Although many of the functions that are integral to successful stewardship are within the scope of bedside nurses, data evaluating nursing engagement in stewardship are limited. The objective of this study was to identify nurses' ro...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2018.03.028
更新日期:2018-07-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Control chart methodology has been widely touted for monitoring and improving quality in the health care setting. P charts and U charts are frequently recommended for rate and ratio statistics, but their practical value in infection control may be limited because they (1) are not risk-adjusted, and (2) perfo...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1067/mic.2000.109883
更新日期:2000-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::The infection control team in a university hospital designed, implemented, and evaluated a program to audit infection control policies. Process surveillance techniques of observation and monitoring were used during surveys of patient care areas to evaluate infection control practices. Nineteen unit surveys have been c...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0196-6553(84)90113-5
更新日期:1984-08-01 00:00:00
abstract::Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) strains were examined in hospital effluents. Most S aureus strains are resistant to methicillin (MRSA), followed by tetracycline. Approximately 15% of MRSA strains are also resistant to vancomycin (VRSA). All VRSA strains devel...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.08.015
更新日期:2015-12-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Insufficient use of behavioral theory to understand health care workers' (HCWs) hand hygiene compliance may result in suboptimal design of hand hygiene interventions and limit effectiveness. Previous studies examined HCWs' intended, rather than directly observed, compliance and/or focused on just 1 behaviora...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章,随机对照试验
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2013.07.019
更新日期:2014-02-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Stethoscopes may serve as vehicles for transmission of bacteria among patients. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial copper surfaces to reduce the bacterial concentration associated with stethoscope surfaces. METHODS:A structured prospective trial involving 21 health care provid...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 临床试验,杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.01.030
更新日期:2017-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:This study was conducted to evaluate the ongoing transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a 10-bed trauma intensive care unit (TICU) in a large teaching hospital. METHODS:Surveillance cultures for MRSA were obtained on admission to the TICU. Colonized or infected patients were p...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2007.05.013
更新日期:2008-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::Molecular evidence of Listeria monocytogenes cross-contamination in a nursery is presented. Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b was isolated from the blood and the conjunctiva of a baby with neonatal sepsis who was born after septic amnionitis and premature rupture of membrane. Nine days later, the same bacterium was i...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1067/mic.2003.25
更新日期:2003-08-01 00:00:00
abstract::Microbial contamination of used, unprocessed internal components of dental handpieces (HPs) was assessed. HPs were dismantled aseptically, immersed in phosphate-buffered saline, ultrasonicated, and cultured. A median of 200 CFU per turbine (n = 40), 400 CFU per spray channel (n = 40), and 1000 CFU per item of surgical...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2014.06.008
更新日期:2014-09-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Following a period (2009-2012) during which zero measles cases were reported, a measles outbreak occurred in 2013 in Bama County, Guangxi, China, that involved more than 100 children younger than age 8 months. We aimed to identify the pitfalls and risk factors while implementing the control measures. METHOD...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.11.005
更新日期:2016-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::The antibacterial efficacy of three alcohol-based products (liquid and gel) were tested on the hands with blood and contaminated with Serratia marcescens (ATCC 14756), using EN 1500 procedures in 14 healthy volunteers. The alcohol-based products tested, either gel or liquid-based, reached bacterial reduction levels hi...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2010.12.018
更新日期:2011-11-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Enterobacter cloacae has become a common cause of nosocomial infections. This study was designed to investigate the pattern of spread of E cloacae during an outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS:Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction was used to examine 111 E...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2000-04-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Gloves are a necessary contact precaution to prevent transmission of infectious pathogens that spread by direct or indirect contact with an infected person or a contaminated environment. This article reports a study investigating hand and environmental contamination levels when health care workers (HCWs) fol...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2010.06.007
更新日期:2011-03-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Varicella vaccine was first available in Taiwan in 1997. The aims of this study were to investigate varicella vaccine safety and occurrence of breakthrough in Taiwan during the first 3 years. The adverse events, incidence of breakthrough, and factors associated with breakthrough were analyzed. METHODS:A per...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1067/mic.2003.58
更新日期:2003-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to threaten global health. Although global and national AMR action plans are in place, infection prevention and control is primarily discussed in the context of health care facilities with home and everyday life settings barely addressed. As seen with the recent global SARS-CoV...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.04.011
更新日期:2020-09-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Despite absence of evidence, in practice, asymptomatic bacteriuria is perceived as a risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI) among patients with cardiac surgery. We aimed to identify whether an association exists between the preoperative presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria or urinary tract infection a...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.08.015
更新日期:2018-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of health care-associated infections, but many facilities may not have the resources or expertise to develop their own hand hygiene promotion campaign. This observational study demonstrated that a campaign developed for 1 facility could successfully contribu...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.02.020
更新日期:2015-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:A novel strain of influenza A (H1N1) was identified in April 2009 and developed into a pandemic by June 2009. This rapid and unexpected event had enormous implications for infection preventionists (IP) internationally. Lessons learned from this event should guide future pandemic planning efforts. METHODS:Fo...
journal_title:American journal of infection control
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2009.09.003
更新日期:2009-12-01 00:00:00