The coated antiseptic tip (CAT) syringe.

Catheter-related blood stream infections (CR-BSI) account for 30% of healthcare acquired infection (HAI). Colonization of connector hubs and contaminated syringes are thought to increase the risk of CR-BSI. The Coated Antiseptic Tip (CAT) syringe was developed to decontaminate connector hubs, thereby reducing the risk of CR-BSI.

A difficult diagnosis - constrictive pericarditis and its treatment: a case report.

The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion, for the signs and symptoms of this disease can be falsely attributed to other causes. Herein, we present a case of a 70-year old retired farmer whose symptoms of right heart failure were initially attributed to co-existing pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. He was discharged.

Modification in prescribing practices for third-generation cephalosporins and ciprofloxacin is associated with a reduction in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia rate.

To decrease the incidence of hospital infections caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an educational intervention study was performed in which the use of intravenous ciprofloxacin and third-generation cephalosporins was discouraged. The effect was assessed by observing the MRSA bacteraemia rate both within the hospital and the intensive care unit for 18 months before, and 16 months after, the two-month intervention programme. MRSA bacteraemia rate throughout the hospital was reduced by 62.