Healthcare worker-related MRSA cluster in a German neonatology level III ICU: a true European story.

Here we investigated a cluster of eight newly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-colonized neonates at an ICU, and present data on molecular strain characterization as well as the source identification process in which we analyze the impact of MRSA-colonized HCWs. Molecular strain characterization revealed a unique pattern which was identified as spa-type t 127--an extremely rare strain type in Germany. Environmental sampling and screening of parents of colonized neonates proved negative.

Suspicion of viral gastroenteritis does improve compliance with hand hygiene.

Purpose: Viral gastroenteritis is common on pediatric wards, increasing the need for adherence with hand hygiene recommendations in order to prevent cross-transmission. Therefore, we investigated hand hygiene reflecting complete work-day activities on pediatric wards and focused on the influence of viral gastroenteritis. There are, so far, no studies representing complete working days on pediatric wards or addressing the influence of viral gastroenteritis.

Hand hygiene in pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit patients: daily opportunities and indication- and profession-specific analyses of compliance.

Background: Hand hygiene is considered to be the single most effective tool to prevent health care-associated infections. Daily hand hygiene opportunities and compliance for pediatric/neonatal intensive care units (ICU) are currently unknown.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study in pediatric and neonatal ICU patients with analyses of hand hygiene behavior in relation to profession, indication, and shift and correlation with disinfectant usage.

External ventricular and lumbar drainage-associated meningoventriculitis: prospective analysis of time-dependent infection rates and risk factor analysis.

Background: Data on time-dependency of external ventricular drainage (EVD)- and lumbar drainage (LD)-associated meningoventriculitis (MV) are scarce and discussions on the subject are controversial; no data exist for infection rates (IR) relative to drainage-days. For this reason, we conducted an observational study to determine time-dependent IRs and to perform a risk factor analysis.

Patients And Methods: All patients (n = 210) requiring an EVD or LD during an 18-month period in 2007 and 2008 were enrolled and characterized.

Surveillance of nosocomial infections in a neurologic intensive care unit.

Objective: To assess data on the epidemiology of nosocomial infection (NI) among neurologic intensive care patients.

Design: Prospective periodic surveillance study.

Setting: An 8-bed neurologic intensive care unit (ICU).

Periodic surveillance of nosocomial infections in a neurosurgery intensive care unit.

Background: We assessed data on the epidemiology of nosocomial infections (NIs) in a 14-bed neurosurgical intensive care unit (NSICU) and used surveillance data for the promotion of quality improvement activities.

Patients And Methods: Prospective periodic surveillance was performed over five 3-month periods between July 1998 and October 2002 on all patients admitted with a length of stay > 24 hours.

Results: 763 patients with a total of 4,512 patient days and a mean length of stay of 5.

[Periodic surveillance of nosocomial infections in two neurology intensive care units. A valuable tool for quality management in intensive care].

Background And Objective: Nosocomial infections are a common problem in intensive care therapy and have relevant influence on morbidity, mortality and associated costs. The aim of this study was to assess data on the epidemiology of nosocomial infections and related risk factors in neurological intensive care patients and to use them for internal quality management.

Methods: Prospective periodic surveillance was performed in the first quarter of the years 1999 and 2000 in two neurology intensive care units.