Effect of the implementation of infection prevention measures by an infection prevention link physician in trauma/orthopaedics surgery on hygiene-relevant processes and nosocomial infections.

Background: The German Infection Protection Act and KRINKO recommend nominating one authorized medical specialist in every medical department as an infection prevention link physician (PLP). Detailed evidence on the contribution of PLPs to reducing infection rates is not available in Germany.

Aim: The "HygArzt"-study investigated whether, and to what extent, a PLP in orthopaedics/trauma surgery is able to improve hand hygiene adherence (HHA), process steps of dressing change, nosocomial infection (NI) and surgical site infection (SSI) rates by implementing an infection prevention bundle (IPB).

Investigating a possible link between antiseptic treatment and the increased occurrence of daptomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: Because of a steady increase in the detection of daptomycin-resistant (DAP-R) Staphylococcus aureus at three medical centres in Cologne, Germany, molecular surveillance was established from June 2016 to June 2018 to investigate the causes of the emergence and spread of respective isolates. Seventy-five S. aureus isolates, both DAP-R and DAP-susceptible, were collected from 42 patients for further analysis.

Evidence of the medical and economic benefits of implementing hygiene measures by a prevention link physician in trauma surgery: Study protocol for a biphasic multicenter prospective interventional pre-post cohort study using a structured intervention bundle development and tools of behavior change management.

Introduction: The German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention recommends nominating one authorized medical specialist in every medical department as an infection prevention link physician (PLP). It has been roughly described that a PLP serves as a link between the infection prevention team and the respective clinical departments. No detailed evidence about the contribution made by PLPs to the decrease of infection rates is available in Germany.

Standardized aseptic dressing change procedure: Optimizations and adherence in a prospective pre- and postintervention cohort study.

Background: The "HygArzt" project investigated the effectiveness of hygiene measures introduced by an infection prevention link physician (PLP).

Objective: To investigate whether the introduction of a standardized aseptic dressing change concept (ADCC) by a PLP can increase hand hygiene adherence and adherence to specific process steps during an aseptic dressing change (ADC) in a trauma surgery and orthopedic department.

Methods: We defined 4 required hand disinfection indications: (1) before the preparation of ADC equipment, (2) immediately before the ADC, (3) before the clean phase, and (4) after the ADC.