Petra Gastmeier

..However, the evaluation in most of theses studies disregards the fact that there are additional competing events, such as discharge or death...

..We have an overview of 3357 neonates in three birthweight groups. This article explains the reasons for the various steps, and the advantages and disadvantages of modification of the original NNIS methods and definitions...

..In addition to standardization according to device use, another stratification of reference data according to patients' severity-of-illness scores is often required for benchmarking in intensive care units (ICUs)...

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..Cost-effectiveness is likely associated with surveillance activities within the KISS framework, as these activities will have a beneficial effect on nosocomial infection rates in participating hospitals...

..Simple interventions are often useful for reducing CR-BSI rates and the opportunities to decrease CR-BSI rates appear to be greatest when multi-module programmes are applied. An average reduction of more than 50% seems to be possible...

..This article describes the need for a systematic collection of outbreaks published in the literature and an available possibility for filling this gap...

..The available results demonstrate that this approach can lead to a substantial reduction of surgical site infections...

..This paper investigates the contribution made by articles published in the last year to the development of nosocomial-infection surveillance and control policies...

..66-0.76] and the RR for CR-BSI was 0.80 (95% CI 0.72-0.90). The corresponding RR for SSI was 0.72 [95% CI 0.64-0.80]. Participation in KISS was associated with a significant reduction in these three NIs...

..821, P=0.024). Environmental survival may be an important factor contributing to the ecological fitness of some nosocomial pathogens in ICUs. Infection control measures should consider this finding...

..The purpose of this article is to investigate whether surveillance and feedback of surgical site infection (SSI) information to the physicians and nurses of participating hospitals lead to reduced SSI rates or not...

..To describe mortality from intensive care unit acquired infections in German ICUs...

..To describe the epidemiology of nosocomial outbreaks published in the scientific literature...

..To determine risk factors for death among patients with nosocomial pneumonia and patients with primary bloodstream infections (BSI) in intensive care units (ICUs)...

..aureus (MSSA)...

..It was the objective of this paper to investigate the evidence for HMEF from the viewpoint of prevention of pneumonia and to investigate the appropriate changing intervals as well as filter materials...

..The focus is on ventilator-associated pneumonia, urinary tract infections and surgical site infections...

..This study aims to describe the occurrence of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and the relation between endemic and epidemic nosocomial MRSA infections in intensive care units (ICUs) in Germany...

..In addition, burn wound infections should be recorded using the percentage of TBSA for stratification of burn wound infection rates...

..Often simple interventions are useful for the reduction of VAP rates, for which the best chances appeared to be the application of multi-module programmes. On average a reduction of more than 40% seems to be possible...

..5% of S. aureus associated primary BSI were due to MRSA. KISS data are useful benchmarks for internal quality management, however a careful interpretation is necessary to stimulate infection control efforts...

..The exchange of experience between the European surveillance networks in this respect in particular--remains a cornerstone and will motivate further activities in the individual countries...

..However, surgeons alone cannot achieve such a decrease, and a team approach is required under most circumstances...

..Because there are many immunocompromised patients in our facility we will continue our current infection control management until more data concerning MRGN are available...

..These exogenous infections could be prevented by adherence to basic infection control measures. The association between bacterial cross transmissions and nosocomial infection rates was analyzed...

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..Thoracic transplant recipients appear to be at high risk for post-operative infections. Therefore, we investigated the incidence and risk factors of post-operative nosocomial infections (NIs) in lung and heart transplant recipients...

..The objective of this systematic review was to identify differences between outbreaks of health care-associated infections in NICUs and other ICUs as reported to date in the medical literature...

..To investigate whether isolating patients with MRSA in private rooms in ICUs (or cohorting) is a protective factor for nosocomial MRSA infection...

..Overall, in 37.1%, no source was identified. The main sources identified were index patients (40.3%), followed by equipment and devices (21.1%), environment (19.8%), and personnel (15.8%)...

..Terminal tap water filters may be used to prevent nosocomial Legionnaires' disease. We present data from water samples using an improved kind of tap water filters...

..Of 191 outbreaks identified, 11 had strong epidemiological evidence that HCWs were the source. In 3 of these outbreaks, asymptomatic carriers were the cause. The frequent practice of screening asymptomatic HCWs should be reconsidered...

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..CONCLUSION: Performing surveillance with KISS was associated with a reduction of the rates of CVC-associated primary BSIs in ICU patients...

..The patient was given ventilatory assistance and cared for postoperatively for 6 weeks before a diagnosis of rabies virus infection was made. Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) was offered to potentially exposed healthcare workers (HCWs)...

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..CONCLUSIONS: Even where there is acute awareness of the problem and a generally high infection control level in a department, it is difficult to change behavior in such a way that further nosocomial infections can be totally excluded...

..Thus, cardiac surgeons should know the local baseline DSSI rate, e.g. by surveillance, and should be aware of the risk factors for DSSI cases...

..Linezolid should be used with caution when invasive devices or foreign materials are in place or therapeutic courses last longer than 14 d. Previous cases of linezolid-resistant S. aureus are summarized...

..58; 95% CI 0.339-0.987; p < 0.05). Significant risk factors for nosocomial CA-BSIs during the neutropenic phase were AML as underlying disease as well as transplantations...

..Especially cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are known to be at risk for MRGN acquisition. We present surveillance data of endemic MRGN in CF patients from a German university hospital during a 3-year period...

..05, CI(95%) 1.01-1.09, p<0.01). Thoracic organ transplantation was not found to be a risk factor for bacterial transmission, but transmission was associated with a prolonged length of stay...

..KISS is considered the national reference database, but continuous evaluation and development of KISS are necessary to react adequately...

..The choice of suctioning system (open vs. closed) remains unresolved in evidence-based guidelines. This meta-analysis was carried out to analyze the effect of the type of suctioning system on the incidence of VAP...

..To determine the percentage of cross-transmissions in an intensive care unit (ICU) with high nosocomial infection (NI) rates according to the data of the German Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System...

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..67%, p=0.034). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality between case and control patients with RTI/BSI (25% vs 20%, p=1.0)...

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..A further follow-up of later microbiological reports is not recommended, and it seems useful to concentrate on patients with indwelling devices...

..4% (CI(95%) 0.0;1.9). Despite high DOC rates, posttransplant infections due to DOC were rare under the condition of adequate preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and aseptic organ retrievement...

..This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of expressing MRSA rates of infection and discusses which describes best the occurrence of MRSA in different situations...

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..quot;KISS" in the name of this project stands for "hospital infection surveillance system" (in German, Krankenhaus-Infektions-Surveillance-System)...

..Therefore, pathogen transmission needs to be prevented. There are several guidelines for the care of CF patients, but no transparent systematic literature review has been published...

..The present meta-analysis reviews these RCTs...

..However, its impact on the number of particles and microorganisms inside the vehicle--and by this its impact on the risk of an allergic reaction--is yet unknown...

..In contrast, the reputation of the health care facility in the public media was much less important. It seems that kindness and basic hygiene measures, both quite inexpensive factors, are key issues for patients...

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..To study the dependence of infection risk and outbreak size on the type of index case (i.e., patient or staff)...

..To avoid retrograde contamination of filters, education of staff and patients in handling these devices is mandatory...

..The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) cases in a tertiary care university hospital using a standardized surveillance method...

..018). No adverse effects related to the intervention were observed. The use of chlorhexidine-impregnated wound dressings significantly reduced the incidence of CVC-related infections in patients receiving chemotherapy...

..Nosocomial CDAD is associated with high costs for healthcare systems. Clinicians should be aware of the financial impact of this disease and the application of appropriate infection control measures is recommended to reduce spread...

..We estimated the avoidable costs due to nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTI) based on the data of the German National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KISS)...

..Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are able to hydrolize these antibiotics. As the number of ESBL-producing bacteria is increasing worldwide, detection of ESBL-producers is important for the both of prevention and therapy...

..Due to the enormous increase in the number of MRSA-patients, in July 2004, an extended admission screening protocol was implemented in ICUs and surgical wards at Hannover Medical School...

..The following publication summarizes the state of knowledge about the most important controversial prevention strategies and explains the recommendations...

..Existing local protocols and practices for the control of C. difficile should be carefully reviewed and modified if necessary...

..A new patient-based surveillance system is proposed which reflects the different times since implantation of VADs and therefore allows a fair method for interhospital comparison...

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..Samples that were positive for Legionella spp. contained 1-4 cfu/mL. We believe that an impregnated filter system is suitable for the prevention of nosocomial Legionellosis in high-risk patient care areas...

..Aim of this study was to determine to what extent evidence-based infection control recommendations are applied in German intensive care units (ICUs)...

..Do not use multi dose vials unless declared by manufacturer. Alcoholic hand disinfection is the most important measure in order to avoid nosocomial pathogen transmission and infection...

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..Recently, PCR methods have been developed which allow the specific identification of MRSA even from nasal swabs...

..As this database may be used free of charge, all medical staff in the field of infection control, hygiene, and hospital epidemiology should be aware of its existence...

..In contrast to the huge amount of data available for ICU patients, appropriate surveillance data for non-ICU patients have been missing in Germany...

..This is associated with a significantly increased risk for mortality. Voriconazole prophylaxis appears to be superior to itraconazole, especially in high risk pts with pretransplant Aspergillus colonization...

..Even small concentrations of spores have been associated with outbreaks, mainly due to A. fumigatus or A. flavus. Patients at risk should not be exposed to aspergilli...

..The following article explains the recently published recommendations of the American hospital hygiene experts...

..Dermatologists should be informed about this specific type of infection and about the appropriate infection control measures...

..To demonstrate the limits of comparison of national prevalence rates of nosocomial infections...

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..A large proportion of drug-related nosocomial infections could have been prevented, for example, by avoiding the use of multi-dose vials...

..Our data suggest that the use of electronic faucets poses a potential risk for nosocomial infection in high-risk areas of hospitals...

..However, although it is theoretically possible, we would not recommend the conversion of prevalence into incidence data or vice versa...

..Therefore patients at risk should be hospitalised early and monitored frequently. Strict preventional measures should be implemented as early as possible to minimise the risk of nosocomial outbreaks...

..Oral CHX should be included among preventive measures performed to reduce nosocomial LRTI. Whether it has an impact on the development of LRTI in patients requiring mechanical ventilation for a longer period of time remains unresolved...

..Laminar air flow systems do not seem to prevent SSI but may even cause harm, instead. There is a strong association between the annual number of surgical procedures and low SSI rates...

..C) Patients harbouring even multi drug resistant P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia or Alcaligenes spp. may not share their room with immunocompromised patients and should also be isolated when treated in intensive care units...

..However, continuous intense efforts are necessary to maintain these improvements...

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..15-200.5). CONCLUSION: The NNIS risk index was not suitable for assessing SSI rates in this outpatient setting and for these specific procedures...

..To determine the influence the Hawthorne effect has on compliance with antiseptic hand rub (AHR) use among healthcare personnel...

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..To evaluate the draft Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions of nosocomial pneumonia in comparison with current CDC definitions to increase acceptance by intensive care specialists...