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Synopsis: As determined by process of care measurement, adverse event occurrence, and patient satisfaction, quality of care is compromised by infection control procedures.
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Heres one for the strange-but-true case file: A 48-year-old woman under home therapy for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) presented to the emergency department with a one-day history of fever and chills accompanied by general abdominal discomfort without nausea or vomiting.
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In a multicenter study of occupational HIV exposures, 38% of source patients had genotype mutations associated with resistance to anti-retroviral drugs. Recent antiretroviral treatment history was highly associated with resistance.
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At least six children have died this year of invasive infections with community strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after acquiring influenza, Hospital Infection Control has learned.
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While annual respirator fit-testing has proven to be the most controversial element of the recent federal action on TB, a new requirement for medical evaluation of employees also will affect infection control and employee health programs.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) 1998 respiratory protection standard, which now applies to tuberculosis exposures in health care settings, includes the following general requirements for respirator fit-testing:
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Olsen SJ, Chang HL, Vheung T, et al. Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on aircraft. N Engl J Med 2003: 349:2,416-2,422.
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Many questions continue to circle around the use of central venous catheter (CVC) devices. What are the demographics of their use and the practices of their insertion? How dangerous are they? What location in the hospital is CVC use most prevalent? What are ways to limit infection? Are there special considerations to treat infections, including bloodstream infections (BSI), resulting from the use of CVCs?
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Crisis response mode and rapidly emerging infections are the new normal for a public health system that has to expect new threats as part of the daily job, warned Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
