Reducing urinary catheter use using an electronic reminder system in hospitalized patients: A randomized stepped-wedge trial.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and ease of use of an electronic reminder device in reducing urinary catheterization duration.

Design: A randomized controlled trial with a cross-sectional anonymous online survey and focus group.

Setting: Ten wards in an Australian hospital.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Profile Among Australian Vegetarian and Nonvegetarian Teenagers.

Atherosclerosis develops over a long period of time and often begins in childhood. The goal of this study was to make a cross-sectional assessment of the pattern of cardiovascular disease risk factors among Australian vegetarian (n = 49) and nonvegetarian (n = 639) 14- to 17-year-old participants from New South Wales, Australia. Vegetarians had statistically significant lower mean total (4.

Establishing the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in Australian hospitals: protocol for the Comprehensive Healthcare Associated Infection National Surveillance (CHAINS) study.

Introduction: A healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data point prevalence study (PPS) conducted in 1984 in Australian hospitals estimated the prevalence of HAI to be 6.3%. Since this time, there have been no further national estimates undertaken.

Incidence of single-drug resistant, multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Escherichia coli urinary tract infections: An Australian laboratory-based retrospective study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of single-drug resistant, multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) Escherichia coli urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a sample of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents.

Methods: Laboratory-based retrospective data from all ACT residents whose urine samples were processed from January 2009 to December 2013 at ACT Pathology were utilised. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to determine the associations of age, sex, urine sample source and socioeconomic status with risk of resistant infections.

Task sharing: Development of evidence-based co-management strategy model for screening, detection, and management of diabetic retinopathy.

Background: The number of adults with diabetes is increasing worldwide and also the number of people with diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major complication of diabetes. Task sharing in eye care for people with diabetes could address the shortage in the number of ophthalmologists and increase access to eye care services. This study investigated the opinion of eye care professionals for a checklist of tasks, which are involved in DR management, to be possibly shared by optometrists and mid-level eye and health care workers with ophthalmologists.

Reducing urinary catheter use: a protocol for a mixed methods evaluation of an electronic reminder system in hospitalised patients in Australia.

Introduction: Despite advances in infection prevention and control, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common and remain problematic. Prolonged urinary catheterisation is the main risk factor for development of CAUTIs; hence, interventions that target early catheter removal warrant investigation. The study's objectives are to examine the efficacy of an electronic reminder system, the CATH TAG, in reducing urinary catheter use (device utilisation ratio) and to determine the effect of the CATH TAG on nurses' ability to deliver patient care.

The association between self-rated health and social environments, health behaviors and health outcomes: a structural equation analysis.

Background: The factors shaping the health of the current generation of adolescents are multi-dimensional and complex. The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants of self-rated health (SRH) of adolescents attending a faith-based school system in Australia.

Methods: A total of 788 students attending 21 Seventh-day Adventist schools in Australia responded to a health and lifestyle survey that assessed SRH as well as potential determinants of SRH including the health outcomes mental health, vitality, body mass index (BMI), select health behaviors, social factors and personal demographics.

Changes in knowledge and attitudes of hospital environmental services staff: The Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals (REACH) study.

Background: The Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals (REACH) study tested a multimodal cleaning intervention in Australian hospitals. This article reports findings from a pre/post questionnaire, embedded into the REACH study, that was administered prior to the implementation of the intervention and at the conclusion of the study.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire, nested within a stepped-wedge trial, was administered.

Task sharing in the eye care workforce: Screening, detection, and management of diabetic retinopathy in Pakistan. A case study.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a preventable cause of vision loss. Reducing vision loss due to DR and providing access to eye care services for people with diabetes have been severely constrained by a shortage in the number of ophthalmologists. This study aimed to explore the potential for task sharing in the eye care workforce for screening, detection, and management of DR.

Roles of the eye care workforce for task sharing in management of diabetic retinopathy in Cambodia.

Aim: To identify the current roles of eye and health care workers in eye care delivery and investigate their potential roles in screening and detection for management of diabetic retinopathy (DR) through task sharing.

Methods: Purposive sampling of 24 participants including health administrators, members from non-government organizations and all available eye care workers in Takeo province were recruited. This cross sectional mixed method study comprised a survey and in-depth interviews.

Development and evaluation of a website for surveillance of healthcare-associated urinary tract infections in Australia.

Phase II of the Surveillance to Reduce Urinary Tract Infections project piloted a website for point prevalence surveys of healthcare-associated (HAUTI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection in Australian hospitals and aged care homes. This report describes development and evaluation of the website for online data collection. Evaluation findings from 38 data collectors indicated that most respondents found website registration and web form use easy (N = 22; 58% and N = 16; 43%, respectively).

Reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in hospitals: study protocol for a multi-site randomised controlled study.

Introduction: Despite advances in infection prevention and control, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common and remain problematic. A number of measures can be taken to reduce the risk of CAUTI in hospitals. Appropriate urinary catheter insertion procedures are one such method.

Knowledge and practices of teachers associated with eye health of primary school children in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Purpose: Teachers' perspectives on eye health can be limited, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess teachers' knowledge and practices associated with eye health of primary students in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of primary school teachers.

Attitudes and perceptions of eye care workers and health administrators regarding task sharing in screening and detection for management of diabetic retinopathy in Pakistan.

Purpose: The shortage of ophthalmologists in many countries is a major barrier to timely provision of eye care. A team work approach to screen, detect and manage diabetic retinopathy (DR) could achieve greater screening coverage of people with diabetes to prevent vision loss. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of eye care workers and health administrators regarding task sharing for management of DR.

A Multimodal Intervention for Improving the Mental Health and Emotional Well-being of College Students.

This study examined the effectiveness of a 10-week multimodal intervention for improving the mental health and emotional well-being of college students when included as a mandatory component of the students' course of study. A total of 67 students (20.9 ± 5.

Religious Affiliation Influences on the Health Status and Behaviours of Students Attending Seventh-Day Adventist Schools in Australia.

Students attending Seventh-day Adventist (Adventist) schools in Australia have been shown to have better health status and behaviours compared to secular norms, yet these schools cater for a high percentage of non-Adventist students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of religious affiliation (Adventist/non-Adventist) on the health status and behaviours of students attending Adventist secondary schools in Australia. The sample included 1734 students who responded to a health and lifestyle survey that captured demographic details, self-reported height and weight, self-reported health status, mental health and select health behaviours.

Impact of electronic healthcare-associated infection surveillance software on infection prevention resources: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections is fundamental for infection prevention. The methods and practices for surveillance have evolved as technology becomes more advanced. The availability of electronic surveillance software (ESS) has increased, and yet adoption of ESS is slow.

Meatal cleaning with antiseptics for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections: A discussion paper.

Urinary tract infections related to indwelling urinary catheters, known as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), are largely preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Healthcare-associated infections including CAUTI are associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials, increased morbidity and mortality as well as additional financial burden on health care systems, patients and their families. While the optimal aim for patients and the health care system is to prevent CAUTI using measures such as reducing unnecessary placement and early removal of urinary catheters, there is evidence that cleaning of the meatal or peri-urethral area with antiseptic prior to catheter insertion and care of this area while the catheter is insitu has the potential to reduce CAUTI.

Assessing a temporary isolation room from an infection control perspective: A discussion paper.

Introduction: Assessing the functionality and infection control implications of new technologies presents significant challenges. In this discussion paper, we present our approach to assessing infection control aspects of a new isolation room, the RediRoom™ (prototype). We report how we evaluated this room, lessons learnt and suggestions for future evaluations in this area.

The burden of healthcare-associated infection in Australian hospitals: A systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Central to all efforts to control and prevent healthcare associated infections (HAIs) is the inherent need to measure the burden of infection and disease, classically referred to as surveillance. Australia does not have a national HAI surveillance system making it very difficult to systematically assess and report on the burden of hospital-acquired HAIs. This systematic review reports the incidence burden of HAIs in Australian hospitals as reported in the peer-reviewed literature from 2010 to 2016.

What Makes a Tweet Fly? Analysis of Twitter Messaging at Four Infection Control Conferences.

OBJECTIVE To examine tweeting activity, networks, and common topics mentioned on Twitter at 4 international infection control and infectious disease conferences. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. METHODS An independent company was commissioned to undertake a Twitter 'trawl' each month between July 1, 2016, and November 31, 2016.

A predictive model of days from infection to discharge in patients with healthcare-associated urinary tract infections: a structural equation modelling approach.

Background: Length of stay (LOS) in hospital is an important component of describing how costs change in relation to healthcare-associated infection and this variable underpins models used to evaluate cost. It this therefore imperative that estimations of LOS associated with infections are performed accurately.

Aim: To test the relationships between the size of hospital, age, and patient comorbidity on days from admission to infection and days from infection to discharge in patients with a healthcare-associated urinary tract infection (HAUTI), using structural equation modelling (SEM).