Screening for surgical nosocomial infections by crossing databases.

Unlabelled: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and they are the third cause of nosocomial infections. It has been shown that surveillance can reduce the rate of these infections because the publication of the results that introduce a interrogation on her surgical pratices. However, surveillance requires considerable medical resources.

Assessment of transpulmonary absorption of ethanol from alcohol-based hand rub.

Background: Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) have been associated with a reduction of nosocomial infections. Despite the worldwide introduction of these products in health care settings, the aim of this study was to assess the transpulmonary absorption of ethanol contains in ABHRs used by health care workers (HCWs) in real conditions of work shift.

Methods: Twenty-six HCWs of Nancy University Hospital were included.

Assessment of exposure to ethanol vapors released during use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs by healthcare workers.

Background: Despite the increasing use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub solutions, few studies have quantified the concentrations of inhaled ethanol.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess ethanol exposure during hygienic and surgical hand disinfection practices.

Method: Ethanol concentrations were measured at the nose level of a wooden dummy and human volunteers.

Emergence of hand contamination with Aspergillus during demolition work.

Hand rubbing with hydro-alcoholic solutions prevent the exogenous nosocomial infection, but the hydro-alcoholic solutions were not sporicidal. A major program of demolition was organized on the area of the University Hospital of Nancy (France) between 2007 and 2010, and this period is often considered as a possible source of suspending Aspergillus spores. This study shows the emergence of Aspergillus on the hands of the medical students during demolition period despite the same quality of hand hygiene.

Dermal and pulmonary absorption of ethanol from alcohol-based hand rub.

Background: Ethanol intoxication of healthcare workers (HCWs) using alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) in the workplace is a potentially serious issue. This study quantified the level of ethanol absorption among HCWs after hygienic hand disinfection.

Methods: Eighty-six HCWs from Nancy University Hospital were tested before and after a 4-h shift.

Health effects of disinfection by-products in chlorinated swimming pools.

Increased attendance at swimming pools is correlated with higher input of organic and minerals pollutants introduced by swimmers in the swimming pool water. In most swimming pools, microbiological control is performed by disinfection with the addition of chlorine. Chlorine is now well-known to lead to the formation of many disinfection by-products (DBPs) including trihalomethanes and chloramines.

Prospective observational study to assess hand skin condition after application of alcohol-based hand rub solutions.

Background: The use of alcohol-based hand rub solutions (ABHRSs) in health care settings has been associated with increased hand hygiene compliance and reduced rates of nosocomial infection. Deterioration in hand skin condition leads to impaired barrier function, changes in skin flora, and increased bacterial shedding. Thus, poor skin condition can increase the risk of infection.

Pontiac fever among retirement home nurses associated with airborne legionella.

The aim of this study was to ascertain incidence of symptoms compatible with Pontiac fever (PF) and to assess their association with exposure to legionella bacteria among retirement home nurses who help residents take their shower. Within a non-epidemic framework, 104 nurses of 19 retirement homes were followed up during an average period of four months. Data on symptoms, number and location of showers they attended were recorded daily by each participant.

Impacts of two perfluorinated compounds (PFOS and PFOA) on human hepatoma cells: cytotoxicity but no genotoxicity?

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and particularly two of them, perfluoroctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), have been widely produced and used since 1950. They both persist in the environment and accumulate in wildlife and humans. The toxicity of PFOS and PFOA has been studied extensively in rodents with several adverse effects mainly a hepatocarcinogenic potential.

Legionellosis prevention in France.

Since 1997, both the prevention of legionellosis and the control of Legionella in water networks and cooling towers have greatly improved in France. The epidemiological surveillance of Legionnaires' disease showed an increase, which was followed by a decrease in the incidence after a maximum was reached in 2005 (incidence rate of 2.5 per 10(5)).

Identifying possible deaths associated with nosocomial infection in a hospital by data mining.

Background: Nosocomial infection (NI) is a cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Conducting an audit of deaths due to NI is a potentially useful approach to improving professional standards. In France, these deaths are required to be reported, but the reporting is left to clinicians, who often do not comply.

Factors determining poor practice in alcoholic gel hand rub technique in hospital workers.

Background: Hand hygiene of healthcare personnel is one of the most important interventions for reducing transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Previous studies have demonstrated that the use of alcohol-based hand gel increases hand hygiene compliance, but that effective use of this product cannot be taken for granted.

Objective: Evaluate factors associated with poor hand hygiene effectiveness of hospital workers using an alcohol-based hand gel and the effect of an education program.

[Control measures for a VRE outbreak in a haemodialysis unit].

We report an outbreak of colonization with Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) in the Haemodialysis unit of our hospital. From October 2004 to September 2008, 19 patients were found positive. The risk of acquiring this multi-resistant bacterium is extremely important in patients undergoing haemodialysis, heightened measures have gradually been set to control cross transmissions: first isolation, then geographic clustering of carriers and finally creating cohorting sectors with different staff for carriers, contacts and VRE free patients.

A prospective study of the impact of colonization following hospital admission by glycopeptide-resistant Enterococci on mortality during a hospital outbreak.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the impact on mortality of colonization by glycopeptide-resistant Enterococci (GRE) during hospitalization.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2006, a hospital in Nancy, France, was subject to a GRE van A outbreak. Some 113 patients who had acquired GRE after hospital admission were matched with 113 controls.

[Quantifying errors in the identification of patients' medical records in an active filing].

The aim of this study was to quantify and qualify mistaken identities in a current medical records archive. The medical records are classified by identification indexes (day and month of birth, the first letter of their surname) by category where their placement is a function of the record's status defined as "current", "semi-current" or "dead". All of the medical records marked as "current" (n=43,592), dating between 12 February 2004 to 11 March 2004, were analysed.

Short-term assessment of training of medical students in the use of alcohol-based hand rub using fluorescent-labeled hand rub and skin hydration measurements.

This study evaluated 2 measurements of the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand rub application: skin hydration and percentage of skin area covered by fluorescent-labeled hand rub. The use of fluorescent-labeled hand rub is an effective and rapid way to assess the effectiveness of hand rub application and correlates well with the effectiveness of hand hygiene technique, as evaluated by microbial counts on the hands. Measurement of skin hydration also is correlated with effectiveness of coverage and is useful in demonstrating that alcohol-based hand rub does not dehydrate the skin.

Spatial heterogeneity of personal exposure to airborne metals in French urban areas.

The spatial distribution of urban population exposures to ambient air particles was investigated as part of the Genotox'ER study conducted in four metropolitan areas (Grenoble, Paris, Rouen and Strasbourg) in France. In each city, 60 to 90 non-smoking adult and children volunteers were selected. Subjects lived in three different urban sectors: one highly exposed to traffic emissions, one influenced by local industrial sources, and a background urban environment.

[Survey on the activity of hospital departments of dermatology in France].

Introduction: The Collège des Enseignants de Dermatologie de France initiated a study to assess the activity of the departments of dermatology in French hospitals. We report the results of this survey.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted during a randomly selected week in the year 2000.

Short-term effects of air pollution on mortality in the cities of Rouen and Le Havre, France, 1990-1995.

In this study, the authors examined the short-term effects of ambient air pollution on mortality across 2 French cities: Rouen and Le Havre. In Poisson regression models, which controlled for day-of-week effects, the authors used nonparametric smoothing to control for temporal trend, weather, and influenza epidemics. In Rouen, an interquartile range increase of 60.

[Impact of the daily variations of the air pollution on the ambulatory emergency health services activity. Study in the urban area of Rouen (France)].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility of using both the emergency phone calls (SAMU) and medical interventions (SMUR) related to ambulatory emergency services for local epidemiological surveillance of health impact of air pollution.

Methods: A temporal ecological study was performed at Rouen area (France) (380,000 inhabitants) for 1990-1997 (SAMU) and 1990-1996 (SMUR). The pollutants tested were: Sulphur dioxide (SO(2)), Particles (PM13), and Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), as collected routinely by a local automated network.