A retrospective analysis of the 2000 and 2001 editions of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, to determine the association of S aureus infections with length of stay, total charges, and in-hospital mortality.

A simple protocol for quality assessment.

This is the second edition of the World Health Organization's guide to Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infections.

Health-care--associated infections (HAIs) affect 5% of patients hospitalized in the United States each year. Central line--associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) are important and deadly HAIs, with reported mortality of 12%--25%. This report provides national estimates of the number of CLABSIs among patients in intensive-care units (ICUs), inpatient wards, and outpatient hemodialysis facilities in 2008 and 2009 and compares ICU estimates with 2001 data.

To view the 2008 report, visit http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11980.

These guidelines have been developed for healthcare personnel who insert intravascular catheters and for persons responsible for surveillance and control of infections in hospital, outpatient, and home healthcare settings.

Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings, 2nd Edition 
Guide to the Elimination of Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections  
CAUTIs 
Clostridium difficile 
CRBSIs                                                                                                                                                                                           MRSA in Hospital Settings                                                                                                                                                        Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

James Davis, BSN, RN, CCRN, CIC
Senior Infection Prevention Analyst
Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority
Central venous catheters provide necessary vascular access; however, their use places patients at risk for infection. Central-line-associated bloodstream infection occurs when there are lapses in care in insertion and maintenance. It is essential that a comprehensive infection prevention program be data driven.

Medical and nursing staff uniforms have been under scruptiny for some time as a potential source of transmission of microorganisms. This study investigates the rate of bacteria present on uniforms.

Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)

Recommendations from CDC and Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)

Attributable mortality, excess length of hospitalization, and extra costs.

Presents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s recommendations for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs), formerly called surgical wound infections.

Last updated in 200 by William Rutala, Ph.D, M.P.H., David Weber, M.D., M.P.H and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC).

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and six other organizations have endorsed a sweeping statement dealing with a common sterilization process for medical instruments. As part of the effort to clarify the process, the statement endorses replacing the term “flash sterilization” with “immediate use steam sterilization.”

Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings, 2nd Edition 
Guide to the Elimination of Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections  
CAUTIs 
Clostridium difficile 
CRBSIs                                                                                                                                                                                           MRSA in Hospital Settings                                                                                                                                                        Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia