Contamination of intravenous fluids: a continuing cause of hospital bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial bacteremia caused by the contamination of intravenous (IV) infusates is considered rare. Unfortunately, this problem has been underestimated because its identification requires culturing infusates, a procedure not performed routinely. METHODS: This study was conducted in a referral hospital where IV infusates are admixed in nursing areas. The aim was to determine the prevalence of infusate contamination in adult patients with gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteremia. Over a period of 32 months, a specimen of infusate was drawn for culture from each patient recruited after the laboratory reported a GNR in the blood. RESULTS: A total of 384 infusates were cultured from 384 patients who had been diagnosed with GNR bacteremia. Seven infusates grew a GNR in culture, for a contamination rate of 2% (7/384; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1% to 3%). In all cases, the infectious organism was the same as the organism isolated from the blood. Infusate contamination was responsible for 7% (7/108; 95% CI = 2% to 11%) of all primary bloodstream infections and 11% (7/62; 95% CI = 2% to 22%) of all primary bloodstream infections not associated with central venous catheter infection. CONCLUSIONS: For patients in hospitals where IV drugs are admixed in nursing units, we recommend instituting infusate culture as routine practice following the diagnosis of a GNR in the blood.

Organization of a third-level care hospital in Mexico City during the 2009 influenza epidemic.

An outbreak caused by the novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus was identified in Mexico in late March 2009. The objective of this report is to describe the organization of a tertiary care center in Mexico City during the contingency. We describe the education program, the hospital organization and triaging, and unforeseen overwhelming circumstances. Educational plans were directed to follow standard, contact, and droplet precautions and to condition behavior to avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. N95 respirators were distributed only to perform respiratory procedures. By the fifth month into the epidemic, four patients with hospital-acquired influenza, 467 workers with respiratory symptoms suggestive of influenza (16% of our staff), and 96 workers with confirmed novel influenza A (3% of our staff) were identified. During the first 2 months of the epidemic, 44,225 people went through the triages and only 1503 (3.3%) reached the emergency room. By the fifth month into the epidemic, four small institutional influenza outbreaks (<10 workers each) had been identified, two of them in areas with no patient contact. Molecular testing for influenza was used mainly for epidemiological purposes. Even though we had a supply, we had difficulties in meeting the demand of masks, N-95 respirators, and hand sanitizers. Due to absenteeism, the nursing administration experienced difficulties in covering shifts. Preparation is mandatory for facing an influenza epidemic. The correct use of precautions is an economic measure to limit institutional transmission. Adequate triaging is essential to meet unusual attention demands.

Endemic infusate contamination and related bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggest that in-use contamination of intravenous infusates is uncommon in hospitals with good standards of care. METHODS: We conducted a survey in a referral hospital in Mexico with good standards of care but no pharmacists to prepare intravenous infusates; we tested the a priori hypothesis that the contamination rate is zero. Using a sterile syringe, we took an initial infusate specimen at the time of recruitment, specimen 1, for culture. We took a second specimen, specimen 2, from administration sets that were maintained for 72 hours. Blood cultures were obtained at the discretion of the physicians caring for the patients. RESULTS: We cultured 1093 infusate specimens from 621 administration sets comprising 421 patients. We obtained a specimen 1 from each of the enrolled sets and a specimen 2 from 472 sets (76%). We analyzed 10 significant cultures and obtained a global infusate contamination rate of 0.9% (10/1093; 95% CI: 0.5%-1.7%). Two cases of infusate-related bacteremia occurred, establishing a global rate of 0.003/72 infusion hours. CONCLUSIONS: Even in institutions with good nursing standards, endemic in-use infusate contamination may be a present danger. We must avoid the use of intravenous therapy whenever possible.

Estudio clínico de la panela en el biberón como inductor potencial de caries / A clinical study of the brown sugar in nursing bottle as a potential caries inductive

La caries de biberón es una entidad patológica comunmente identificada en Colombia, la cual produce destrucciones en las estructuras de los dientes de avance rápido, que compromete el estado de salud general del menor. Se tomó como muestra 100 niños pertenecientes al ICBF (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar), se observó la presencia o no de consumo de biberón, se analizaron los diferentes contenidos de éste, y su relación con la incidencia de dicha patología. Dentro de los hallazgos más importantes se destacan que la "panela" (extracto solidificado por calor de la caña de azúcar) se encuentra con una alta frecuencia en su consumo, y es evidente la relción directa que tiene como inductor potencial de caries. Se plantea además los riesgos y consecuencias que la caries de biberón, como entidad patológica, tiene a largo plazo sobre el menor

Accidentes laborales e incidencia de infección por VIH y hepatitis B y C en una institución mexicana / Occupational injuries and incidence of hepatitis and HIV in healthcare workers of a Mexican hospital

Introducción. El riesgo de contraer infecciones de transmisión parenteral en el personal de salud ha cobrado importancia debido a sus elevados costos de atención, prolongada incapacidad, elevada mortalidad e importante estigmatización social. Objetivos. Conocer la frecuencia de exposiciones laborales en una institución, determinar los principales grupos laborales afectados y las circunstancias en las que ocurrieron dichos accidentes, y evaluar el seguimiento de los afectados. Métodos. Se revisaron las exposiciones laborales informadas espontáneamente al Comité de Control de Infecciones del INNSZ de junio de 1987 a diciembre de 1993. Se analizaron las categorías de empleo, tipo de accidente, instrumento y circunstancias en las que ocurrieron, y los resultados del seguimiento serológico para hepatitis B, hepatitis C (VHC) e infección por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH basal y trimestralmente durante el primer año. Resultados. En seis años y medio se registraron 260 accidentes en 240 trabajadores. En el segundo semestre de 1987 se captaron dos accidentes, 23 en 1988, 25 en 1989, 23 en 1990, 36 en 1991, 90 en 1992 y 61 en 1993. Los afanadores e intendentes fueron los grupos más afectados (32 por ciento), seguidos por el personal de enfermería (27 por ciento) y los médicos internos de pregrado (20 por ciento). El 88 por ciento de los accidentes fueron de tipo punzocortante, 20 por ciento catalogados como profundos. La mayoría de los accidentes ocurrieron posterior a la utilización del instrumento: material desechado fuera de un contenedor rígido (18 por ciento), manipulación inadecuada de los contenedores (14 por ciento) o tratando de re-encapuchar agujas (11 por ciento); y en el 36 por ciento ocurrieron durante la realización de algún procedimiento específico. Ocurrió una seroconversión de hepatitis B en 10 casos de exposición al antígeno de superficie, una en nueve exposiciones con marcadores positivos para VHC, y ninguna en 54 accidentes con fuente contaminada por VIH. Conclusiones. El aparente incremento en el número de accidentes captados pudiera explicarse por una mayor conciencia para reportarlos. El 88 por ciento de los accidentes fueron de tipo punzocortante, y al menos 43 por ciento ocurrieron en circunstancias que pudieron ser prevenidas. El personal de intendencia, de enfermería y los médicos internos fueron los grupos más afectados, por lo que hacia ellos deberán dirigirse los mayores esfuerzos de educación y protección