A nonclonal outbreak of vancomycin-sensitive bacteremia in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To describe an outbreak of bacteremia caused by vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus faecalis (VSEfe).

Design: An investigation by retrospective case control and molecular typing by whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Setting: A tertiary-care neonatal unit in Melbourne, Australia.

Outbreak of vanB vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization in a neonatal service.

Objective: To describe successful termination of an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) colonization within a neonatal service.

Setting: Multisite neonatal intensive care unit and special care nurseries within a single health care service.

Participants: Forty-four cases of VREfm-colonized neonatal inpatients-including 2 clinical isolates (eye swab and catheter-urine specimen) and 42 screening isolates.

Peripheral intravenous catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: more than 5 years of prospective data from two tertiary health services.

Objectives: To determine the incidence, risk factors for and outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) associated with peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs).

Design, Setting And Patients: A review of prospectively collected data from two tertiary health services on all health care-associated SAB episodes occurring in adults aged > 17 2013s from January 2007 to July 2012.

Main Outcome Measures: Numbers of health care-associated SAB episodes; device type, location of insertion, device dwell time and outcome at 7 and 30 days for all SAB episodes associated with use of a PIVC; rates of SAB per 10 000 occupied bed-days (OBDs).

Environment cleaning without chemicals in clinical settings.

Effective cleaning of elements in the health care environment has a crucial role in reducing the risk of health care-acquired infection. We assessed ultramicrofiber cloth and steam technology in 2 clinical settings. This new technology performed extremely well.

Pilot study to measure cleaning effectiveness in health care.

Environmental surfaces are likely to contribute to the transmission of health care-associated pathogens. The present study aimed to determine the most effective regimen or product for removing bioburden. An adenosine triphosphate assessment technique was used to compare cleaning methods and products for removing bioburden from soiled surfaces.

What's hanging around your neck? Pathogenic bacteria on identity badges and lanyards.

Objective: To determine whether identity badges and lanyards worn by health care workers (HCWs) are capable of harbouring potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Design, Setting And Participants: Cross-sectional study of 71 HCWs (59 clinical ward staff and 12 infection control staff) at Monash Medical Centre, a university teaching hospital. Samples from lanyards, identity badge surfaces and connections (eg, clips, keys, pens) were cultured.