The Combined Impact of Surgical Team Education and Chlorhexidine 2% Alcohol on the Reduction of Surgical Site Infection following Cardiac Surgery.

Background: The use of 2% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol (CHG) has been associated with reduction in catheter-related bloodstream infections and surgical site infection (SSI) in general surgery. Also, improved awareness of best practice from the perspective of the operative team is likely to result in reductions in SSI rates.

Methods: This is an ambispective cohort study of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

Routine surveillance ultrasound for the management of central venous catheters in neonates.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of central venous catheter (CVC)-related thrombi detected by routine surveillance ultrasound, and to assess whether positive findings had an impact on management or outcomes.

Study Design: All neonates in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit who had a CVC inserted for >14 days underwent routine surveillance ultrasound biweekly between January 2003 and December 2009. Data were reviewed retrospectively.

Bar-code verification: reducing but not eliminating medication errors.

Using observation, eye tracking, and clinical simulation with embedded errors, we studied the impact of bar-code verification on error identification and recovery during medication administration. Data supported that bar-code verification may reduce but does not eliminate patient identification (ID) and medication errors during clinical simulation of medication administration.

Routine surveillance for bloodstream infections in a pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant cohort: Do patients benefit?

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at a high risk for late bloodstream infection (BSI). Controversy exists regarding the benefit of surveillance blood cultures in this immunosuppressed population. Despite the common use of this practice, the practical value is not well established in non-neutropenic children following HSCT.

Full-time or part-time work in nursing: preferences, tradeoffs and choices.

Nursing human resources are limited; thus, effective deployment of personnel is essential to optimize staff capacity. The nursing profession competes for staff in environments where human capital is at a premium. To maximize recruitment and retention, it is imperative that nurses' work preferences be taken into account.