Device Infections

Frequency of device-associated infections in intensive care units

Background: Health care associated infections (HAIs) are a class of infections that infect patients during hospital admissions and receive medical services. These infections occurs within 48 to 72 hours of admission and up to 6 weeks after discharge. Surveillance of device-associated infections (DAIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) is substantial in planning healthcare strategies. This study wa...

Nonvalvular cardiovascular device-related infections.

More than a century ago, Osler took numerous syndrome descriptions of cardiac valvular infection that were incomplete and confusing and categorized them into the cardiovascular infections known as infective endocarditis. Because he was both a clinician and a pathologist, he was able to provide a meaningful outline of this complex disease. Technical advances have allowed us to better subcategori...

Ventricular Assist Device-Specific Infections

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been shown to offer a significant survival benefit over medical therapy in patients with advanced heart failure. Despite significant advances in device technology and surgical technique, VAD-specific infections still remain among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with VADs. VAD-specific infections may involve the driveline exit ...

Biofilms and device-associated infections.

Microorganisms commonly attach to living and nonliving surfaces, including those of indwelling medical devices, and form biofilms made up of extracellular polymers. In this state, microorganisms are highly resistant to antimicrobial treatment and are tenaciously bound to the surface. To better understand and control biofilms on indwelling medical devices, researchers should develop reliable sam...

Determining Factors in Device-Related Infections