Left ventricular assist device-associated infections.
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2…

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Novel approaches to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of medical device-associated…

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New developments in the prevention of intravascular catheter associated infections.
…

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Infectious complications of dialysis access devices.
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 20…

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Cardiovascular implantable electronic device associated infections.
Infect Dis Cl…

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Central nervous system device infections.
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2012 Mar;26(1…

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Urinary catheter-associated infections.
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2012 Mar;26(1):…

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Vascular graft infections.
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2012 Mar;26(1):41-56
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Hand hygiene.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;25(1):21-43

Authors: Bolon M

The toll of health care-associated infections on patients and the seeming ease of the procedure thought best able to prevent them have focused a spotlight onto hand hygiene performance. Poor performance of hand hygiene by health care workers inspires outrage in the general public. Much is understood regarding barriers to and motivators of hand hygiene performance. Guidelines encouraging use of alcohol-based hand hygiene agents have facilitated hand hygiene improvement efforts. These efforts and evidence that improved hand hygiene performance is associated with a reduction in health care-associated infections should encourage those in the hand hygiene campaigns.

PMID: 21315993 [PubMed - in process]

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Central line-associated bloodstream infections: prevention and management.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;25(1):77-102

Authors: Weber DJ, Rutala WA

Approximately 80,000 central venous line-associated bloodstream infections (CLA-BSI) occur in the United States each year. CLA-BSI is most commonly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida spp, and aerobic gram-negative bacilli. These organisms commonly gain entrance in into the bloodstream via the catheter-skin interface (insertion site) or via the catheter hub. Use of strict aseptic technique for insertion is the key method for the prevention of CLA-BSI. Various methods can be used to reduce unacceptably high rates of CLA-BSI, including use of an antiseptic- or antibiotic-impregnated catheter, daily chlorhexidine baths/washes, and placement of a chlorhexidine-impregnated sponge over the insertion site.

PMID: 21315995 [PubMed - in process]

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Urinary tract infections.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;25(1):103-15

Authors: Chenoweth CE, Saint S

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) account for approximately 40% of all health care-associated infections. Despite studies showing benefit of interventions for prevention of CAUTI, adoption of these practices has not occurred in many healthcare facilities in the United States. As urinary catheters account for the majority of healthcare-associated UTIs, the most important interventions are directed at avoiding placement of urinary catheters and promoting early removal when appropriate. Alternatives to indwelling catheters such as intermittent catheterization and condom catheters should be considered. If indwelling catheterization is appropriate, proper aseptic practices for catheter insertion and maintenance and use of a closed catheter collection system are essential for preventing CAUTI. The use of antimicrobial catheters also may be considered when the rates of CAUTI remain persistently high despite adherence to other evidence-based practices, or in patients deemed to be at high risk for CAUTI or its complications. Attention toward prevention of CAUTI will likely increase as Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other third-party payers no longer reimburse for hospital-acquired UTI.

PMID: 21315996 [PubMed - in process]

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Prevention of Health Care-Acquired Pneumonia and Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health Care Settings.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;25(1):117-33

Authors: Zuckerman JM

Health care-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These infections most frequently arise from a patient’s indigenous flora, although occasionally they result from exposure to environmental pathogens such as Legionella and Aspergillus. This article reviews infection prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of HAP. Successful implementation of these prevention strategies usually requires a multidisciplinary approach and standardization of protocols. This article also discusses strategies to prevent transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within health care settings.

PMID: 21315997 [PubMed - in process]

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Nosocomial fungal infections: epidemiology, infection control, and prevention.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;25(1):201-25

Authors: Alangaden GJ

Fungal infections are an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. This article reviews the current epidemiology of nosocomial fungal infections in adult patients, with an emphasis on invasive candidiasis and aspergillosis. Recently published recommendations and guidelines for the control and prevention of these nosocomial fungal infections are summarized.

PMID: 21316001 [PubMed - in process]

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Antimicrobial stewardship.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;25(1):245-60

Authors: Tamma PD, Cosgrove SE

The overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents has detrimental effects on patients, the health care system, and society. Inappropriate antimicrobial use contributes to the rising cost of health care, the emergence of multidrug resistant organisms, and adverse drug reactions. Antimicrobial stewardship programs provide standard, evidence-based approaches to encourage judicious use of antimicrobial agents. This review summarizes the goals of antimicrobial stewardship programs, the members needed to initiate and sustain them, antimicrobial stewardship strategies, barriers to the implementation and maintenance of the programs, approaches to measure their effects, and the basic steps needed to initiate them.

PMID: 21316003 [PubMed - in process]

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Related Articles

Strategies and new developments in the management of bacterial meningitis.

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2009 Dec;23(4):925-43, viii-ix

Authors: Miranda J, Tunkel AR

The principles of antimicrobial therapy for acute bacterial meningitis include use of agents that penetrate well into cerebrospinal fluid and attain appropriate cerebrospinal fluid concentrations, are active in purulent cerebrospinal fluid, and are bactericidal against the infecting pathogen. Recommendations for treatment of bacterial meningitis have undergone significant evolution in recent years, given the emergence of pneumococcal strains that are resistant to penicillin. Clinical experience with use of newer agents is limited to case reports, but these agents may be necessary to consider in patients who are failing standard therapy.

PMID: 19909891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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