[Risk of bacteremia associated with intravascular devices stratified by birth weight in born of a public hospital of high complexity: follow-up to seven years].

Introduction: Bacteremia associated to vascular catheters is the most frequent nosocomial infection in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and increases cost and mortality.

Objective: To know the risk of bacteremia related to vascular devices in hospitalized newborns, stratified by birth weight.

Method: A surveillance system was established considering birth weight and type of catheters in order to detect bacteremia and look for the risks associated to type of catheters and birth weight in the period 2005 to 2011, according to Chilean Ministry of Health's surveillance.

[Impact of copper in the reduction of hospital-acquired infections, mortality and antimicrobial costs in the Adult Intensive Care Unit].

Unlabelled: We conducted a clinical trial to determine the impact of coating surfaces with copper in reducing hospital-acquired infections, mortality associated with nosocomial infections and antimicrobial costs in the UCI. The study took place at Carlos Van Buren Hospital, Valparaíso, Chile. No differences in the frequency of nosocomial infections were found.

What is the use? An international look at reuse of single-use medical devices.

Reuse of single-use devices is common in most countries worldwide. We provide an overview of the issue from an international perspective. In many developing and transitional countries reuse of cheap single-use devices (needles, syringes, surgical gloves) is common leading to large numbers of unsafe interventions, specifically injections and, as a consequence, infection with hepatitis B, C or HIV.