Comparison of acceptability, skin tolerance, and compliance between handwashing and alcohol-based handrub in ICUs: results of a multicentric study.

Objective: We compared handwashing (HW) and alcohol-based handrub (ABH) for skin tolerance, acceptability, and hand hygiene compliance in health-care workers (HCWs) in a multicentric study.

Design And Setting: Before/after study over two periods (P1 and P2) in seven ICUs. Monitoring of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition in two ICUs (U4 and U6).

ICU-acquired nosocomial infection: impact of delay of adequate antibiotic treatment.

In order to measure the impact on survival of the early introduction of adequate antibiotic treatment for nosocomial bacteremia and pneumonia, a retrospective, cohort study was carried out over a period of 17 months in a 6-bed respiratory ICU. All patients presenting with a first episode of ICU-acquired nosocomial bacteremic infection (Centers for Disease Control criteria) or pneumonia [BAL culture > or = 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml or protected specimen brush culture > or = 10(3) CFU/ml] were included. The organ failure score (Fagon criteria) was recorded on the day of diagnosis.