Changing attitudes to infection management in primary care: a controlled trial of active versus passive guideline implementation strategies.

Background And Objectives: When attempting to implement evidence-based medicine, such as through clinical guidelines, we often rely on passive educational tactics, for example didactic lectures and bulletins. These methods involve the recipient in relatively superficial processing of information, and any consequent attitude changes can be expected to be short-lived. However, active methods, such as practice-based discussion, should involve recipients in deep processing, with more enduring attitude changes.

Relation between mouth and haematogenous infection in total joint replacements.

Objective: To investigate the source of infections associated with orthopaedic prostheses.

Design: Analysis of four infections of prosthetic joints with case records; minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations and sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cell wall polypeptides of the Streptococcus sanguis isolates from the mouth and infected prostheses; examination of the patients' mouths for periodontal disease and caries.

Subjects: Four adults (three men) aged 58-83.

HLA class II polymorphism and IDDM susceptibility in the Greek population.

The frequencies of HLA-DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 alleles were compared between 50 Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Melitus (IDDM) patients and 49 healthy controls in the Greek population. Statistically significant difference in the frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (P = 10(-4)), DQA1*0301-DQB1*0201 (P = 0.01) and DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (P = 0.

Motivation to comply with infection control procedures.

This paper addresses the critical issue of motivating hospital staff to comply with standard infection control procedures. Previous psychological assessment of infection control knowledge, attitudes and behaviour has indicated that the reasons for non-compliance are very basic and reflect inter alia a low perception of the importance of the measures and a lack of motivation. It is argued that, although staff have a theoretical awareness of the value of complying with such procedures, in practice these seem to have a low priority.

Measuring the saving attributable to an antibiotic prescribing policy.

An analytical framework is suggested for the economic evaluation of policies to improve the management of hospital infection. Consideration of the costs and benefits to be expected from improved policies implies the existence of an optimal infection rate which is higher than the minimum attainable. It follows that hospitals can and probably do spend too much on infection control in, at least, some areas.

The clinical significance of the gastro-oral pathway of intestinal bacteria after head and neck cancer surgery.

Intestinal aerobic gram-negative bacilli (IAGB) are considered to be important in the pathogenesis of wound infection following major head and neck surgery. These micro-organisms have been shown to originate endogenously from the stomach, in spite of broad spectrum chemoprophylaxis. We have attempted to interrupt this gastro-oral pathway by instilling an antiseptic (40% ethanol) into the stomach after surgery.

Acquisition of endemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa on an intensive therapy unit.

During a 9-month period, patients, staff and environment were monitored in order to trace the source of endemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa on our intensive therapy unit (ITU). Of 81 patients studied, 14 (17%) acquired 15 different pyocin types while on the ITU. The most frequent site of colonization was the rectum (11 patients).

Comparative evaluation of the immediate and sustained antibacterial action of two regimens, based on triclosan- and chlorhexidine-containing handwash preparations, on volunteers.

The degerming effect of a 3 min handwash with 2% triclosan, or 4% chlorhexidine, in detergent and enhanced efficacy of either antiseptic in isopropyl alcohol, was evaluated in volunteers. Handwashing with either antiseptic preparation reduced the normal flora by a factor of 10; alcohol rubbing by approximately a factor of 1000. Both regimens eliminated Micrococcus roseus, artificially inoculated before every procedure.

Blood transfusion-associated Pseudomonas fluorescens septicaemia: is this an increasing problem?

Pseudomonas fluorescens transfusion-related septicaemia (TRS) is rare. We present the first description in the UK of two cases of TRS caused by this organism.

Evaluation of the skin disinfecting activity and cumulative effect of chlorhexidine and triclosan handwash preparations on hands artificially contaminated with Serratia marcescens.

The initial and cumulative efficacy of two antiseptic handwash preparations in eliminating Serratia marcescens from hands was evaluated on volunteers. Two antiseptics with persistent skin antibacterial activity, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate in detergent and 1.5% triclosan in natural soap, were studied in a new protocol designed according to Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Antibiotic costs and prescribing patterns in a recently commissioned Liverpool teaching hospital. Part II: Antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis.

All antibiotics prescribed for prophylaxis in a major teaching hospital were prospectively surveyed during 31 consecutive days. Of 2350 patients admitted during that period, 238 (10.1%) received antibiotics for prophylaxis.

Antibiotic costs and prescribing patterns in a recently commissioned Liverpool teaching hospital. Part I: Antimicrobial therapy.

All antibiotics prescribed in a major teaching hospital were prospectively surveyed during 31 consecutive days. Of 2350 patients admitted during that period, 577 (24.6%) received antibiotics, 238 (10.

Evaluation of ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for one week in treating uncomplicated gonococcal chlamydial, and non-specific urethritis in men.

Ciprofloxacin, a quinolone antibacterial, was evaluated in the treatment of gonococcal, chlamydial, gonococcal and chlamydial, and non-gonococcal non-chlamydial urethritis. The dosage regimen used was 500 mg orally twice a day for seven days. Of the 56 patients evaluated 22 had gonococcal infection only, 13 were infected with Chlamydia trachomatis only, seven had combined infection, and 14 were harbouring neither of these organisms.

A randomized trial of Timentin and tobramycin versus piperacillin and tobramycin in febrile neutropenic patients.

The efficacy of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid (Timentin) was assessed in a regimen combined with tobramycin in febrile episodes in neutropenic patients. After randomization, 151 patients were assessable following treatment with either Timentin and tobramycin or piperacillin and tobramycin. The overall success rate was 70% in the Timentin and tobramycin group and 71% when piperacillin and tobramycin were given: when no infection could be demonstrated efficacy was 73% in the Timentin group, 65% when only clinical or radiological evidence of infection was present and 63% with conclusive microbiology.

Chemoprophylaxis in major head and neck surgery.

Wound infections are a significant complication following major oncological head and neck surgery. In view of the controversy surrounding the use of chemoprophylaxis a controlled trial was designed. Intravenous Augmentin (amoxycillin and clavulanic acid) was shown to reduce significantly (P less than 0.

The gastro-oral pathway of intestinal bacteria after head and neck cancer surgery.

Intestinal aerobic Gram negative bacilli (IAGB) are frequently associated with wound infection after head and neck surgery. The origin of these organisms has not been previously identified. The stomach was investigated as a potential endogenous source.

Bacteriological assessment of patients undergoing major head and neck surgery.

The use of chemoprophylaxis in major Head and Neck surgery is controversial. Prior to conducting a prospective trial a controlled microbiological monitoring of 32 patients was performed to determine a suitable antibiotic for prophylaxis. Wound infection occurred in 22 (68%) patients with fistulae occurring in 10 of these patients (45.

Epidemiology of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Liverpool from 1977 to 1982.

After the 1976 outbreak of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) infections had been controlled, less than 1 per cent of cases of gonorrhoea in Liverpool in 1977 and 1978 were caused by PPNG. Thereafter the steady increase in PPNG infections to 5.6 per cent of all cases in 1982 was associated with marked changes in epidemiological pattern, plasmids and auxotypes.