scholarly journals A Longitudinal Seroprevalence Study Evaluating Infection Control and Prevention Strategies at a Large Tertiary Care Center with Low COVID-19 Incidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4201
Author(s):  
Lorenz Schubert ◽  
Robert Strassl ◽  
Heinz Burgmann ◽  
Gabriella Dvorak ◽  
Matthias Karer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Travel History ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Personal protective equipment and adherence to disinfection protocols are essential to prevent nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. Here, we evaluated infection control measures in a prospective longitudinal single-center study at the Vienna General Hospital, the biggest tertiary care center in Austria, with a structurally planned low SARS-CoV-2 exposure. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were assessed by Abbott ARCHITECT chemiluminescent assay (CLIA) in 599 health care workers (HCWs) at the start of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in early April and two months later. Neutralization assay confirmed CLIA-positive samples. A structured questionnaire was completed at both visits assessing demographic parameters, family situation, travel history, occupational coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure, and personal protective equipment handling. At the first visit, 6 of 599 participants (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. The seroprevalence increased to 1.5% (8/553) at the second visit and did not differ depending on the working environment. Unprotected SARS-CoV-2 exposure (p = 0.003), positively tested family members (p = 0.04), and travel history (p = 0.09) were more frequently reported by positively tested HCWs. Odds for COVID-19 related symptoms were highest for congestion or runny nose (p = 0.002) and altered taste or smell (p < 0.001). In conclusion, prevention strategies proved feasible in reducing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from patients and among HCWs in a low incidence hospital, not exceeding the one described in the general population.

scholarly journals 1196. Is the Weekend Staff Really to Blame? Challenges in Isolation Compliance at an Academic Tertiary Care Center

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S429-S429
Author(s):  
Sonia Bassett ◽  
Kelley M Boston ◽  
Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Normal Approximation ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Visual Observation ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Tertiary Care Center

Abstract Background Transmission-based isolation precautions are implemented in an effort to decrease the risk of transmission of pathogens. Weekend staff are perceived to have lower compliance. Methods Visual observation of healthcare worker (HCW) compliance with an institutional isolation precautions practices was done at an academic tertiary care center. In the first quarter of 2019, observations were completed for 894 patients who required contact, droplet or airborne isolation precautions. Observations included patients with infection or colonization with multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDRO) or highly transmissible infections. Observations focused on availability of appropriate supplies, compliance with infection control practices, and documentation. Audits were performed on workdays and weekends, and results were communicated to unit leadership via email. Comparison of proportions was calculated using the normal approximation in Minitab18. Results Compliance with the different elements of the audit can be seen in Table 1. HCW compliance with the use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene on exit from the room had the lowest compliance and was statistically lower on weekends than on weekdays, and compliance was significantly lower than all other categories for both weekday and weekend measurements. Fifty-seven percent of all patients had missed compliance on one or more elements. There was not a statistically significant variation in practice between weekends and weekdays in overall compliance. Conclusion There is opportunity for improvement in all compliance on isolation practices facility-wide, and elements that require changes in behavior had the lowest compliance, and were lower on weekend shifts. We did not find other differences in performance for weekend staff vs. weekday staff. Educational measures should focus on all individual staff across all shifts. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Observations of Cleaning Techniques at a Tertiary Care Center during Observational Infection Control Rounds

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. E72
Author(s):  
Lori Coddington ◽  
Dianne DeAngelis ◽  
Jackie Sanner ◽  
Rashida A. Khakoo
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center

scholarly journals Outbreak of Postoperative Endophthalmitis in a Thai Tertiary Care Center

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 564-566
Author(s):  
Anucha Apisarnthanarak ◽  
Supanee Jirajariyavej ◽  
Kanokporn Thongphubeth ◽  
Chananart Yuekyen ◽  
David K. Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Postoperative Endophthalmitis ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

We performed a study with a 1:3 ratio of case patients (n = 11) to control patients (n = 33) to evaluate risk factors for postoperative endophthalmitis in a Thai tertiary care center. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus and surgeon A were associated risk factors. Preoperative diabetes mellitus control and the improvement of infection control practices led to the termination of the outbreak.

scholarly journals First Candida auris Outbreak during a COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary-Care Center in Lebanon

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Fatima Allaw ◽  
Nada Kara Zahreddine ◽  
Ahmad Ibrahim ◽  
Joseph Tannous ◽  
Hussein Taleb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
American University ◽  
American University Of Beirut

Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen considered as a global health threat. Recently there has been growing concern regarding drug resistance, difficulty in identification, as well as problems with eradication. Although outbreaks have been reported throughout the globe including from several Arab countries, there were no previous reports from Lebanon. We herein report the first cases of C. auris infection from the American University of Beirut Medical Center, a tertiary care center in Lebanon describing the clinical features of the affected patients in addition to the infection control investigation and applied interventions to control the outbreak. Fourteen patients with C. auris infection/colonization identified using MALDI-TOF and VITEK 2- Compact system were reported over a period of 13 weeks. Patients were admitted to four separate critical care units. All of them came through the emergency room and had comorbid conditions. Half of the patients were infected with COVID-19 prior to isolation of the C. auris. C. auris was isolated from blood (two isolates), urine (three isolates), respiratory tract (10 isolates) and skin (one isolate). All the patients had received broad spectrum antibiotics prior to isolation of C. auris. Six patients received antifungal treatment, while the remaining eight patients were considered colonized. Environmental cultures were taken from all four units and failed to isolate the organism from any cultured surfaces. A series of interventions were initiated by the Infection Prevention and Control team to contain the outbreak. Rapid detection and reporting of cases are essential to prevent further hospital transmission. A national standardized infection control registry needs to be established to identify widespread colonization.

Building and Validating a Computerized Algorithm for Surveillance of Ventilator-Associated Events

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 999-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tal Mann ◽  
Joseph Ellsworth ◽  
Najia Huda ◽  
Anupama Neelakanta ◽  
Thomas Chevalier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated ◽  
Automated Method ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Infection Preventionists

OBJECTIVETo develop an automated method for ventilator-associated condition (VAC) surveillance and to compare its accuracy and efficiency with manual VAC surveillanceSETTINGThe intensive care units (ICUs) of 4 hospitalsMETHODSThis study was conducted at Detroit Medical Center, a tertiary care center in metropolitan Detroit. A total of 128 ICU beds in 4 acute care hospitals were included during the study period from August to October 2013. The automated VAC algorithm was implemented and utilized for 1 month by all study hospitals. Simultaneous manual VAC surveillance was conducted by 2 infection preventionists and 1 infection control fellow who were blinded to each another’s findings and to the automated VAC algorithm results. The VACs identified by the 2 surveillance processes were compared.RESULTSDuring the study period, 110 patients from all the included hospitals were mechanically ventilated and were evaluated for VAC for a total of 992 mechanical ventilation days. The automated VAC algorithm identified 39 VACs with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. In comparison, the combined efforts of the IPs and the infection control fellow detected 58.9% of VACs, with 59% sensitivity, 99% specificity, 91% PPV, and 92% NPV. Moreover, the automated VAC algorithm was extremely efficient, requiring only 1 minute to detect VACs over a 1-month period, compared to 60.7 minutes using manual surveillance.CONCLUSIONSThe automated VAC algorithm is efficient and accurate and is ready to be used routinely for VAC surveillance. Furthermore, its implementation can optimize the sensitivity and specificity of VAC identification.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(9):999–1003

Universal MRSA Nasal Surveillance: Characterization of Outcomes at a Tertiary Care Center and Implications for Infection Control

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (11) ◽  
pp. 1084-1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najma Parvez ◽  
Chetan Jinadatha ◽  
Robert Fader ◽  
Thomas W. Huber ◽  
Anne Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Center

scholarly journals Impact of an Infection Control Program on the Prevalence of Nosocomial Infections at a Tertiary Care Center in Switzerland

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Ebnöther ◽  
Beate Tanner ◽  
Flavia Schmid ◽  
Vittoria La Rocca ◽  
Ivo Heinzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Nosocomial Infection ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Infection Control Program ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hygiene Compliance

Objective.To study the impact of a multimodal infection control program on the rate of nosocomial infections at a 550-bed tertiary care center.Methods.Before and after the implementation of an infection control program, the rate of nosocomial infection was recorded in time-interval prevalence studies. Hand hygiene compliance was studied before and after the intervention. As a surrogate marker of compliance, the amount of alcohol-based hand rub consumed before the intervention was compared with the amount consumed after the intervention. The intervention included additional staff for infection control, repeated instructions for hand hygiene, new guidelines for preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and isolation of patients infected or colonized with multidrug-resistant bacteria.Results.The rate of nosocomial infection decreased from approximately 11.7% to 6.8% in 2 years. The rate of hand hygiene compliance increased by 20.0%; it was 59.0% before the intervention and increased to 79.0% afterward. These results correlate with data on the consumption of alcohol-based hand rub, but not with data on the use of antibiotics.Conclusion.Within 2 years, a multimodal infection control program intervention such as this one may reduce the rate of nosocomial infection at a tertiary care center by more than one-third and improve both the quality of care and patient outcomes. It may also generate considerable savings. Therefore, such programs should be promoted not only by hospital epidemiologists but also by hospital administrators.

scholarly journals Practice among Healthcare Workers Regarding the Use of Respiratory Protective Equipment during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (236) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sani Sipai ◽  
Bishnu Rath Giri ◽  
Sudhir Sapkota ◽  
Ram Hari Chapagain ◽  
Santosh Manandhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Introduction: Healthcare workers are always at the risk of exposure to different diseases like respiratory illness including COVID-19. Using appropriate face mask or respiratory protective equipment correctly can prevent transmission of diseases from and to healthcare workers while caring for patients. The study aimed to find out the practice regarding use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care center. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital during June-July 2020 after receiving ethical approval from the review committee regarding practice of use of face masks. Convenience sampling method was used and a sample size of 162 was taken. Descriptive statistical analysis was done. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Among 162 participants, 123 (75.9%) knew the correct way of using the masks (72.5-79.3 at 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: In this study regarding practice of use of face masks, most of the healthcare workers knew the correct way of using masks and practised hygiene before and after using masks.

Pseudo-outbreak of Acinetobacter Iwoffii Infection in a Tertiary Care Center in Thailand

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (05) ◽  
pp. 637-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anucha Apisarnthanarak ◽  
Pattarachai Kiratisin ◽  
Kanokporn Thongphubeth ◽  
Chananart Yuakyen ◽  
Linda M. Mundy
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Point Source ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Outbreak Investigation ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Microbiology Laboratory

We describe a pseudo-outbreak ofAcinetobacter Iwoffiiinfection that was recognized early. The pseudo-outbreak involved 16 patients and occurred 3.5 months after the GNS-506 Vitek automated system was introduced in the microbiology laboratory. Prompt confirmation of incomplete use of the automated system's algorithm as the point source of the misidentifiedA. Iwoffiiclinical isolates averted a full outbreak investigation and excess use of infection control resources.

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