RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hospital surfaces are considered important vectors in the spread of nosocomial pathogens. This study evaluated microbial counts on novel antimicrobial bedrail covers over a 2-week period in a critical care environment. METHODS: Disposable bedrail covers (Aionx Inc, Hershey, PA) made of a copper and silver polymer and capable of conducting an imperceptible surface potential, were installed in a case-control manner on a series of occupied intensive care unit beds. Seventeen bedrails were covered with the study bedrail surface, and 17 were left uncovered. Two hundred seventy-two microbial surface cultures were obtained from both study and control bedrails and analyzed for microbial growth by bacterial enumeration and speciation. RESULTS: The bedrails covered with the study surface demonstrated >80% average decrease in colony forming units across the study period of 15 days. CONCLUSIONS: These novel, detachable bedrail covers successfully demonstrated significant bacterial count reduction in an intensive care unit setting. This may have implications for acquisition of hospital-acquired infections.
Asunto(s)
Lechos , Desinfectantes , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Desinfección , Diseño de Equipo , Fómites , HumanosAsunto(s)
Adhesión a Directriz/estadística & datos numéricos , Vacunas contra la Influenza/uso terapéutico , Programas Obligatorios , Máscaras , Personal de Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Hospitales Comunitarios/normas , Humanos , Gripe Humana/prevención & control , Pennsylvania/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that has dramatically increased in recent decades and has caused outbreaks in health care facilities. Because of these trends, we implemented a mandatory pertussis (Tdap) employee vaccination program. Final vaccination compliance was 97.8% across all clinical campuses.
Asunto(s)
Infección Hospitalaria/prevención & control , Vacunas contra Difteria, Tétanos y Tos Ferina Acelular/administración & dosificación , Personal de Salud , Programas Obligatorios/estadística & datos numéricos , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Vacunación/estadística & datos numéricos , Tos Ferina/prevención & control , Infección Hospitalaria/epidemiología , Vacunas contra Difteria, Tétanos y Tos Ferina Acelular/economía , Brotes de Enfermedades , Humanos , Vacunación/economía , Tos Ferina/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Optimizing employee influenza vaccination rates has become a healthcare focus. We detail an approach involving a strong requirement for unvaccinated workers to wear a face mask and a superconvenient vaccination process. Our major teaching hospital achieved 95% compliance in 2009, and our health system reached 90% and 92% compliance for 2 years.