Ventilator-associated pneumonia: caveats for benchmarking

Objective: To determine the influence of using different denominators on risk estimates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Design and setting: Prospective cohort study in the medical ICU of a large teaching hospital. Patients: All consecutive patients admitted for more than 48h between October 1995 and November 1997. Measurements and results: We recorded all ICU-acquired infections using modified CDC criteria. VAP rates were reported per 1,000 patient-days, patient-days at risk, ventilator-days, and ventilator-days at risk. Of the 1,068 patients admitted, VAP developed in 106 (23.5%) of those mechanically ventilated. The incidence of the first episode of VAP was 22.8 per 1,000 patient-days (95% CI 18.7-27.6), 29.6 per 1,000 patient-days at risk (24.2-35.8), 35.7 per 1,000 ventilator-days (29.2-43.2), and 44.0 per 1,000 ventilator-days at risk (36.0-53.2). When considering all episodes of VAP (n=127), infection rates were 27.3 episodes per 1,000 ICU patient-days (95% CI 22.6-32.1) and 42.8 episodes per 1,000 ventilator-days (35.3-50.2). Conclusions: The method of reporting VAP rates has a significant impact on risk estimates. Accordingly, clinicians and hospital management in charge of patient-care policies should be aware of how to read and compare nosocomial infection rate

Individualized Catheter Surveillance among Neonates: A Prospective, 8-Year, Single-Center Experience

Objective. To monitor trends in central line-associated bloodstream infections and clinical sepsis (CLABICS) among neonates and to determine risk factors for infection, especially dwell time. Design. Prospective, single-center cohort study conducted from 2001 through 2008. Setting. University-affiliated tertiary care center. Methods. Individualized surveillance of catheter use and CLABICS episodes was conducted. Data were obtained via regular on-site visits made 3 times a week. Trends over time were estimated by Poisson regression, and risk factor analysis was conducted using a Cox proportional hazards model and logistic regression. Results. In all, 1,124 neonates were exposed to 2,210 central lines for a total of 12,746 catheter-days and 11,467 catheter-days at risk. The median duration of catheter use was 8 (interquartile range, 5-11) days for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and 4 (interquartile range, 2-6) days for umbilical catheters; 102 CLABICS episodes were detected. The median time to infection was 7 days. Incidence densities were 8.5 CLABICS episodes per 1,000 catheter-days at risk and 8.0 CLABICS episodes per 1,000 catheter-days. The highest rates were identified among neonates weighing 750 g or lower (14.9 CLABICS episodes per 1,000 catheter days at risk) and for PICCs (13.2 CLABICS episodes per 1,000 catheter days at risk). Catheter dwell time was associated with CLABICS for all umbilical catheters (odds ratio [OR], 1.2 per day of use [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1-1.3] P< .001) and for PICCs for up to 7 days (OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1-1.4]; P = .041), but not thereafter (OR, 1.0 [95% CI, 0.9-1.1]; P = .90). Conclusion. Catheter dwell time is a risk factor for CLABICS during the first 7 days, irrespective of catheter type. After 7 days, PICCs are less likely to become infecte

Dynamics of Bacterial Hand Contamination During Routine Neonatal Care

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the dynamics of bacterial contamination of healthcare workers' (HCWs) hands during neonatal care. Setting: The 20-bed neonatal unit of a large acute care teaching hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. Methods: Structured observation sessions were conducted. A sequence of care began when the HCW performed hand hygiene and ended when the activity changed or hand hygiene was performed again. Alcohol-based handrub was the standard procedure for hand hygiene. An imprint of the five fingertips of the dominant hand was obtained before and after hand hygiene and at the end of a sequence of care. Regression methods were used to model the final bacterial count according to the type and duration of care and the use of gloves. Results: One hundred forty-nine sequences of care were observed. Commensal skin flora comprised 72.4% of all culture-positive specimens (n = 360). Other microorganisms identified were Enterobacteriaceae (n = 55, 13.8%); Staphylococcus aureus (n = 10, 2.5%); and fungi (n = 7,1.8%). Skin contact, respiratory care, and diaper change were independently associated with an increased bacterial count; the use of gloves did not fully protect HCWs' hands from bacterial contamination. Conclusions: These data confirm that hands become progressively contaminated with commensal flora and potential pathogens during neonatal care, and identify activities at higher risk for hand contamination. They also reinforce the need for hand hygiene after a sequence of care, before starting a different task, and after glove remova

La traite d’êtres humains en suisse : quel rôle pour le médecin de premier recours ?

La traite d’êtres humains existe en Suisse et est probablement sous-estimée. Le médecin de premier recours a un rôle à jouer dans les soins à apporter aux personnes victimes de la traite, dont les problèmes sociaux et médicaux sont très intriqués ; la première difficulté pour le médecin est la détection d’un tel secret. Une approche humaniste est proposée ici. Elle est essentielle au maintien du lien entre le patient et le professionnel de santé. Des pistes de résolution sont exposées. Leurs écueils et limites sont discutés

Bacterial contamination of the hands of hospital staff during routine patient care

BACKGROUND: Cross-transmission of microorganisms by the hands of health care workers is considered the main route of spread of nosocomial infections. OBJECTIVE: To study the process of bacterial contamination of health care workers' hands during routine patient care in a large teaching hospital. METHODS: Structured observations of 417 episodes of care were conducted by trained external observers (S.T. and V.S.). Each observation period started after a hand-cleansing procedure and ended when the health care worker proceeded to clean his or her hands or at the end of a coherent episode of care. At the end of each period of observation, an imprint of the 5 fingertips of the dominant hand was taken and bacterial colony counts were quantified. Regression methods were used to model the intensity of bacterial contamination as a function of method of hand cleansing, use of gloves during patient care, duration and type of care, and hospital ward. RESULTS: Bacterial contamination increased linearly with time on ungloved hands during patient care (average, 16 colony-forming units [CFUs] per minute; 95% confidence interval, 11-21 CFUs per minute). Patient care activities independently (P<.05 for all) associated with higher contamination levels were direct patient contact, respiratory care, handling of body fluid secretions, and rupture in the sequence of patient care. Contamination levels varied with hospital location; the medical rehabilitation ward had higher levels (49 CFUs; P=.03) than did other wards. Finally, simple hand washing before patient care, without hand antisepsis, was also associated with higher colony counts (52 CFUs; P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: The duration and type of patient care affect hand contamination. Furthermore, because hand antisepsis was superior to hand washing, intervention trials should explore the role of systematic hand antisepsis as a cornerstone of infection control to reduce cross-transmission in hospitals

Individualized catheter surveillance among neonates: a prospective, 8-year, single-center experience

To monitor trends in central line-associated bloodstream infections and clinical sepsis (CLABICS) among neonates and to determine risk factors for infection, especially dwell time

Entrer en collaboration avec des patients partenaires: une évidence?

Le contexte sociétal, politique et institutionnel est aujourd'hui favorable à la mise en place d'un partenariat entre patients et soignants. Malgré des bénéfices tangibles, la perception d'une ambivalence des partenaires renforce l'importance de la construction de cette collaboration. Cet article décrit cette démarche collaborative, née dans le contexte de la transformation d'un programme éducatif de préparation à la chirurgie bariatrique