Innovative Use of Existing Public and Private Data Sources for Postmarketing Surveillance of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections Associated With Intravenous Needleless Connectors.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) data and private databases containing new-generation intravenous needleless connector (study NC) use at the hospital level were linked. The relative risk (RR) of CLABSI associated with the study NCs was estimated, adjusting for hospital characteristics. Among 3074 eligible hospitals in the 2013 CMS database, 758 (25%) hospitals used the study NCs.

Meta-analysis on central line-associated bloodstream infections associated with a needleless intravenous connector with a new engineering design.

Background: Intravenous needleless connectors (NCs) with a desired patient safety design may facilitate effective intravenous line care and reduce the risk for central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLA-BSI). We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the risk for CLA-BSI associated with the use of a new NC with an improved engineering design.

Methods: We reviewed MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, ClinicalTrials.

Chlorhexidine-Alcohol versus Povidone-Iodine for Surgical-Site Antisepsis.

Background: Since the patient's skin is a major source of pathogens that cause surgical-site infection, optimization of preoperative skin antisepsis may decrease postoperative infections. We hypothesized that preoperative skin cleansing with chlorhexidine-alcohol is more protective against infection than is povidone-iodine.

Methods: We randomly assigned adults undergoing clean-contaminated surgery in six hospitals to preoperative skin preparation with either chlorhexidine-alcohol scrub or povidone-iodine scrub and paint.

Efficacy of adding 2% (w/v) chlorhexidine gluconate to 70% (v/v) isopropyl alcohol for skin disinfection prior to peripheral venous cannulation.

We undertook a clinical trial to compare the efficacy of 2% (w/v) chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% (v/v) isopropyl alcohol with the efficacy of 70% (v/v) isopropyl alcohol alone for skin disinfection to prevent peripheral venous catheter colonization and contamination. We found that the addition of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate reduced the number of peripheral venous catheters that were colonized or contaminated.