A successful approach to reducing bloodstream infections based on a disinfection device for intravenous needleless connector hubs.

When central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) spiked in an oncology unit of an acute care hospital in Philadelphia from October 2009 to March 2010, noncompliance with intravenous needleless connector disinfection was suspected as a factor. The hospital implemented a disinfection cap, a device designed to address compliance/variance issues with connector disinfection protocols. However, the incidence of CLABSIs increased again in 1 unit, apparently as the result of poor compliance with cap use.

Bone mineral density, quantitative ultrasound parameters and bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with depression.

Low bone mineral density, which increases the risk of stress fragility fractures, is a frequent, often persistent finding in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The clinical association between major depressive disorder and osteopenia is still unclear, although several factors are associated with a loss of bone mass. The aim of our study, therefore, was to evaluate bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with MDD.