Hand washing soap as a source of neonatal Serratia marcescens outbreak.

Objective: To describe an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to report investigations and interventions having led to the cessation of the outbreak.

Design: Observational study of microbiological and epidemiological investigations realised during a S. marcescens outbreak between March and October 2006.

[Consumption of hand-hygiene products in health establishments in the west of France].

Objectives: The study had for aim to investigate hand hygiene product use in French hospitals between 2000 and 2003.

Design: A questionnaire was sent in 2002 and 2 more in 2003 and 2004 (for 2000 to 2003) requiring data on type of hospital, number of beds, staff members, admissions and patient-day, litres of mild soap, antiseptic soap and alcohol-based rub used and price per litre. Indices were calculated accordingly.