Knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding Clostridium difficile: a survey of physicians in an academic medical center.

Using current guidelines, we surveyed physicians at our hospital to ascertain knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding Clostridium difficile infection. The survey identified significant gaps in knowledge and practice. Infection control professionals should include physician education on Clostridium difficile infection diagnosis, isolation precautions, and treatment as part of a comprehensive control program.

Management and outcome of a varicella exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit: lessons for the vaccine era.

BACKGROUND: Varicella exposure in health care settings poses a threat to susceptible, immunocompromised hosts. We describe the management and outcome of a varicella exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: We reviewed the history of the index case, determination of the exposed cohort, medical management of exposed neonates, and assignment of health care workers based on exposure and immune status. We present the results of serologic testing of health care workers related to their history of varicella disease. RESULTS: Of 427 health care workers assessed at the time of the exposure, 13.1% were seronegative for varicella. Among 180 employees recorded as having a previous history of varicella, 9 were seronegative. A total of 34 infants received prophylaxis with intravenous immune globulin; acyclovir prophylaxis was added for those born at <28 weeks gestational age. The exposed cohort was isolated. No secondary cases of varicella occurred among patients or health care workers. CONCLUSION: Nosocomial varicella exposures require rapid assessment and response, which can be guided by a checklist of actions. Varicella immunity in health care workers cannot be assumed even among those born before 1980; institutional policies should adhere to the 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's definition of immunity to varicella for health care workers.

A statewide collaborative to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremias in New Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Infection control guidelines recommend multiple concurrent interventions to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of an infection control collaborative conducted from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, to decrease the rate of hospital-onset bacteremias by 40%. METHODS: An MRSA curriculum was developed and delivered during three learning sessions. Guidelines, key literature, policies, and educational tools were disseminated. Teams were surveyed at the end of the collaborative and again 18 months later. RESULTS: Teams were recruited from 12 acute care hospitals and 1 long-term acute care hospital, with capacities ranging from 22 to 623 licensed beds. Hospital intervention teams reported 44 hospital-onset, 18 health care-associated, and 122 community-onset MRSA bacteremias in the baseline year, yielding a hospital-onset rate of 0.79 per 10,000 patient-days. By the second six months of the intervention, this rate fell to 0.41, representing an aggregate 48% decline--but a nonsignificant result. Rates of health care-associated and community-onset bacteremias were unchanged. At baseline, 4 hospitals routinely performed active surveillance testing (AST) on 241 beds, which increased to 7 hospitals and 369 beds by July 2009. A follow-up survey completed by 11 hospitals indicated that barriers were similar for large and small facilities. A final survey performed 18 months postcollaborative indicated that 2 additional hospitals had initiated AST, 5 had expanded the use of AST, and only 1 had discontinued AST. CONCLUSIONS: A collaborative model was successfully used to engage a diverse group of hospitals in a rural state to produce measurable improvement and sustained changes in processes of care.

Top ten list of long-term care facility preparations for the upcoming influenza season.

A novel influenza A partly of virus of swine origin (2009 H1N1) emerged this spring, resulting in an influenza pandemic. This pandemic is anticipated to continue into the next influenza season. Given that the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza A appear to be somewhat different in the human populations affected and that two influenza vaccines will be recommended this fall, those who manage long-term care facilities and treat patients in them will be faced with many uncertainties as they approach the 2009/10 influenza season. Ten specific suggestions are offered to those responsible for the care of patients in long-term care facilities regarding the upcoming influenza season. These practical suggestions are the clinical opinions of the authors and do not represent official recommendations of the American Geriatrics Society or any agency.

Treatment of a chronic Scedosporium apiospermum vertebral osteomyelitis. Case report.

Scedosporium apiospermum is a rare cause of fungal vertebral osteomyelitis that may result in chronic infection requiring multiple surgical interventions and long-term medical therapy. This case is the seventh one reported in the literature and is the first to include salvage surgery of a previous major spinal reconstruction. This report is also the first to describe the use of the new antifungal agent voriconazole. In treating this case of chronic vertebral osteomyelitis, several principles are emphasized from both the surgical and medical perspectives. From a surgical perspective, the use of salvage surgery, temporary avoidance of spinal instrumentation, and an appropriate choice of graft materials are emphasized. From a medical perspective, confirmation of the diagnosis, the need for long-term antifungal therapy, the need for long-term patient compliance, and the use of the new antifungal agent voriconazole are emphasized. Application of these principles has led to an adequate 2-year outcome.