Adherence to hand hygiene in an Italian long-term care facility.

In an Italian long-term-care facility (LTCF), we observed a 17.5% adherence to hand hygiene (HH), as well as 47.5% rate of glove use.

Hand hygiene and glove use behavior in an Italian hospital.

In an Italian hospital, we observed that hand hygiene was performed in 638 (19.6%) of 3,253 opportunities, whereas gloves were worn in 538 (44.2%) 1,218 of opportunities.

An outbreak of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infections associated with misuse of drug vials in a surgical ward.

We report an outbreak of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infection due to contamination of total parenteral nutrition solution by insulin or poligeline solution when single-use vials were used for multiple doses in a surgical ward. Four patients had severe sepsis, and no patient died. Multidose vials, used either correctly or incorrectly, may be associated with bloodstream infection.

Trends in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections: effect of the MRSA "search and isolate" strategy in a hospital in Italy with hyperendemic MRSA.

Objective: To evaluate the secular trends in MRSA BSIs after the introduction of a nosocomial MRSA control intervention.

Design: Before-after study.

Setting: An 850-bed community hospital with an ICU and vascular surgery, neurosurgery, bone marrow transplantation, and AIDS units.