The efficacy of self-disinfecting bedrail covers in an intensive care unit.

Background: Hospital surfaces are considered important vectors in the spread of nosocomial pathogens. This study evaluated microbial counts on novel antimicrobial bedrail covers over a 2-week period in a critical care environment.

Methods: Disposable bedrail covers (Aionx Inc, Hershey, PA) made of a copper and silver polymer and capable of conducting an imperceptible surface potential, were installed in a case-control manner on a series of occupied intensive care unit beds.

A mandatory campaign to vaccinate health care workers against pertussis.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that has dramatically increased in recent decades and has caused outbreaks in health care facilities. Because of these trends, we implemented a mandatory pertussis (Tdap) employee vaccination program. Final vaccination compliance was 97.

An alternate approach to improving healthcare worker influenza vaccination rates.

Optimizing employee influenza vaccination rates has become a healthcare focus. We detail an approach involving a strong requirement for unvaccinated workers to wear a face mask and a superconvenient vaccination process. Our major teaching hospital achieved 95% compliance in 2009, and our health system reached 90% and 92% compliance for 2 years.