BACKGROUND The emergence and spread of Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) is becoming a serious problem in Chinese hospitals, however, the data on this is scarce. Therefore, we investigate the risk factors for healthcare-associated CREC infection and study the incidence, antibiotic resistance and medical costs of CREC infections in our hospital. METHODS We conducted a retrospective,...

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the structure of governmental surveillance systems for Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) in the Brazilian Southeastern and Southern States. METHOD A cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study, with data collection by means of two-phases: characterization of the healthcare structure and of the HAI surveillance system. RESULTS The governmenta...

Healthcare workers' hands are the most common vehicle for the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens from patient to patient and within the healthcare environment. Hand hygiene is the leading measure for preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), but healthcare worker compliance with optimal practices remains low in most set...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Some 20-30% of HCAI are considered to be preventable through an extensive infection prevention and control programme. Through an extensive literature review we aim to critically appraise studies which have utilised education initiatives to decrease HCAI. METHODS An extensive review of the literature was carried out in both online medical journals and through the Royal College ...

INTRODUCTION Microbiological profiles were analysed and compared for intra-abdominal, urinary, respiratory and bloodstream infections according to place of acquisition: community-acquired, with a separate analysis of healthcare-associated, and hospital-acquired. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospective cohort study performed at a university tertiary care hospital over 1 year. Inclusion criteria were ...

In developing countries, few data are available on healthcare-associated infections. In Burkina Faso, there has been a failure to take into account risk management and patient safety in the quality assurance program. The main objective of our study was to carry out an assessment of healthcare-associated infection in a first level hospital. We conducted a cross-sectional study in June 2011 in th...

Prevention of Clostridium difficile infection has become extremely important because of increases in its incidence and severity. Unfortunately, efforts at C. difficile infection prevention are hampered by lack of data to support optimal prevention methods, especially for endemic C. difficile infection. Studies are needed to define the optimal prevention practices and to investigate novel preven...

BACKGROUND Bacterial and fungal infections in pediatric oncology patients cause morbidity and mortality. The clinical utility of antimicrobial prophylaxis in children is uncertain and the personal utility of these agents is disputed. Objectives were to use a discrete choice experiment to: (1) describe the importance of attributes to parents and healthcare providers when deciding between use and...

Serratia marcescens is an important opportunistic pathogen combining a propensity for healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance. Outbreaks are frequently reported in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

University College London, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, UCL Royal Free Campus, London NW3 2PF, UK; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK; Imperial College Business School and the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK; Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Ce...