A prospective study of outcomes, healthcare resource utilization, and costs associated with postoperative nosocomial infections.

Objective: We evaluated 4 important outcomes associated with postoperative nosocomial infection: costs, mortality, excess length of stay, and utilization of healthcare resources.

Design: The outcomes for patients who underwent general, cardiothoracic, and neurosurgical operations were recorded during a previous clinical trial. Multivariable analyses including significant covariates were conducted to determine whether nosocomial infection significantly affected the outcomes.

Preoperative risk factors for nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for surgical-site infections (SSIs) caused by S. aureus, and eradication of carriage reduces postoperative nosocomial infections caused by it. No study has compared large groups of preoperative carriers and non-carriers to identify factors that are linked to S.

Nasopharyngeal reservoir of bacterial otitis media and sinusitis pathogens in adults during wellness and viral respiratory illness.

Background: The carriage rate of pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx (NP) was determined using three separate techniques for obtaining samples.

Methods: The NP of 99 healthy adults was sampled with (1) nasal swab, (2) oral swab, and (3) nasal aspiration; 49 adults with common cold were sampled with an oral swab and nasal aspiration. Three selective agars were used to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Intranasal mupirocin to prevent postoperative Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Background: Patients with nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus have an increased risk of surgical-site infections caused by that organism. Treatment with mupirocin ointment can reduce the rate of nasal carriage and may prevent postoperative S. aureus infections.