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A cluster of hemodialysis-related bacteremia linked to artificial fingernails.
Gordin, Fred M; Schultz, Maureen E; Huber, Ruth; Zubairi, Sabiha; Stock, Frida; Kariyil, Joseph.
Affiliation
  • Gordin FM; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA. fred.gordin@va.gov
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol ; 28(6): 743-4, 2007 Jun.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17520554
We examined a cluster of 5 hemodialysis patients who contracted gram-negative bacteremia. A nurse who used an artificial fingernail to open a vial of heparin that was mixed to make a flush solution had a culture of an artificial fingernail specimen positive for Serratia marcescens. The typing of the S. marcescens strains isolated from the 5 patients and the nurse showed them to be identical. This finding provides strong support for policies prohibiting artificial nails for healthcare workers in all hemodialysis units.
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Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Serratia marcescens / Cross Infection / Renal Dialysis / Serratia Infections / Bacteremia / Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Nails Limits: Humans Language: En Year: 2007 Type: Article
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Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Serratia marcescens / Cross Infection / Renal Dialysis / Serratia Infections / Bacteremia / Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Nails Limits: Humans Language: En Year: 2007 Type: Article