Daily bathing with chlorhexidine-based soap and the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus transmission and infection.

Objective: Determine whether daily bathing with chlorhexidine-based soap decreased methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission and intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired S. aureus infection among ICU patients.

Design: Prospective pre-post-intervention study with control unit.

Peripherally inserted central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections in hospitalized adult patients.

Background: Limited data on the risk of peripherally inserted central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (PICC BSIs) in hospitalized patients are available. In 2007, dedicated intravenous therapy nurses were no longer available to place difficult peripheral intravenous catheters or provide PICC care Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Objectives: To determine the hospital-wide incidence of PICC BSIs and to assess the effect of discontinuing intravenous therapy service on PICC use and PICC BSI rates.