Infection control Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Infection control and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Review 1 Podschun R. Ullmann U.:
Klebsiella spp. as nosocomial pathogens: epidemiology, taxonomy, typing methods, and pathogenicity factors
Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 11(4):589-603, 1998Bacteria belonging to the genus Klebsiella frequently cause human nosocomial infections. In particular, the medically most important Klebsiella species, Klebsiella pneumoniae, accounts for a significant proportion of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections, pneumonia, septicemias, and soft tissue infections.The principal pathogenic reservoirs for transmission of Klebsiella are the gastrointestinal tract and the hands of hospital personnel. Because of their ability to spread rapidly in the hospital environment, these bacteria tend to cause nosocomial outbreaks. Hospital
outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella spp., especially those in neonatal wards, are often caused by new types of strains, the so-called extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL) producersThe incidence of ESBL-producing strains among clinical Klebsiella isolates has been steadily increasing over the past years. The resulting limitations on the therapeutic options demand new measures for the management of Klebsiella hospital infections.While the different typing methods are useful epidemiological tools for infection control, recent findings about Klebsiella virulence factors have provided new insights into the pathogenic strategies of these bacteria. Klebsiella pathogenicity factors such as capsules or lipopolysaccharides are presently considered to be promising candidates for vaccination efforts that may serve as immunological infection control measures. | View Page |
| Review 1 Garbutt JM. Littenberg B. Evanoff BA. Sahm D. Mundy LM.
Enteric carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in patients tested for Clostridium difficile.
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 20(10):664-70, 1999OBJECTIVE: To identify independent risk factors for enteric carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) in hospitalized patients tested for Clostridium difficile toxin.PATIENTS: Convenience sample of 215 adult inpatients who had stool tested for C. difficile between January 29 and February 25, 1996.RESULTS: 41 (19%) of 215 patients had enteric carriage of VREF. Five independent risk factors for enteric VREF were identified: (1) history of prior C. difficile infection, (2) parenteral treatment with vancomycin for > or = 5 days, (3) treatment with antimicrobials effective against gram-negative organisms, (4) admission from another institution, and (5) age > 60 years. These risk factors for enteric VREF were independent of the patient's current C. difficile status.CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial exposures are the most important modifiable independent risk factors for enteric carriage of VREF in hospitalized patients tested for C. difficile. | View Page |
| Review 1 Francois P. Vaudaux P. Foster TJ. Lew DP.:
Host-bacteria interactions in foreign body infections.
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 17:514-20, 1996Persistent staphylococcal infections are a major medical problem, especially when they occur on implanted materials or intravascular catheters.This review describes some of the recently discovered molecular mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus attachment to host proteins coating biomedical implants.These interactions involve specific surface proteins, called bacterial adhesins, that recognize specific domains of host proteins deposited on indwelling devices, such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, or fibrin.Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of S. aureus adhesion to the different host proteins may lead to the development of specific inhibitors blocking attachment of S. aureus, which may decrease the risk of bacterial colonization of indwelling devices. | View Page |
| Review 2 Hershow RC. Khayr WF. Smith NL.:
A comparison of clinical virulence of nosocomially acquired methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infections in a university hospital (University of Illinois at Chicago).
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 13(10):587-93, 1992OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical virulence of nosocomially acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) infections in 1989.DESIGN: A retrospective comparison of host factors, in-hospital exposures, sites of infections, and outcomes of patients with nosocomial MRSA and MSSA infections. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four adult patients with nosocomial S.aureus infections.RESULTS: The 22 MRSA-infected and 22 MSSA-infected persons were similar regarding mean age, gender, underlying diseases, and exposure to surgery. Before developing infection, MRSA-infected persons were more likely to have received antibiotics and to have stayed in the hospital > 2 weeks. Bacteremia was the most common presentation in the MRSA and MSSA groups (55% and 59%, respectively). Infectious complications and death were infrequent in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: MRSA and MSSA strains infect patients with similar demographic features and underlying diseases, but MRSA infections are significantly more common among patients with previous antibiotic therapy and a prolonged preinfection hospital stay. Clinical presentations and outcomes did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Thus, similar to studies in the early 1980s, our findings do not suggest greater intrinsic virulence of MRSA. | View Page |
| Handwashing Handwashing is the single most important method of infection control and prevention available.Take care to wash your hands: As soon as gloves are removed. Before and after direct patient contact. After toileting . Before and after meals. Anytime hands are visibly soiled. After contact with face or mouth. | View Page |
| Importance of Handwashing Handwashing is the single most important method of infection control and prevention available.It prevents many other community and hospital acquired infections.It is essential in the prevention of bloodborne pathogen transmission. | View Page |
| Standard precautions Standard Precautions means treating all body fluids and substances as if they were infectious.
Since you can’t tell which specimen may carry a bloodborne pathogen, use appropriate infection control measures during all patient contacts & when handling all specimens.
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| Hand washing Hand washing is the single most important infection control measure.
Wash hands thoroughly before, after, and between all patient contacts.
Be sure to turn off faucets using a paper towel to avoid contamination.
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| Infection Control An effective TB infection control program achieves: prompt detection, airborne precautions, and treatment. | View Page |
| Fundamentals of TB infection control TB infection controls include: standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment regimens in the initial phase of therapy; rapid drug susceptibility testing; directly observed therapy in which a health professional watches a patient swallow each dose of medication and records the date that the administration was observed; improved infection control practices. | View Page |
| Three levels of TB Infection Control Administrative controls reduce the risk of exposure to persons who might have TB disease.Environmental controls prevent the spread and reduce the concentration of infectious droplet nuclei in ambient air.Respiratory protection controls are for situations that pose a high risk of exposure to further reduce risk of exposure of HCWs to infectious droplet nuclei that have been expelled into the air from a patient with infectious TB disease. | View Page |
| TB Infection Control in the Laboratory The laboratory director is responsible for the development of a risk-based infection control plan for the laboratory.The personnel are trained in methods that minimize the production of aerosols.A respirator is used when performing procedures that can result in aerosolization outside a biological safety cabinet.Personal protective equipment specified in the infection control plan is used.Disposable gloves are worn for all laboratory procedures. | View Page |
| Protect Yourself Healthcare workers must be alert for signs and symptoms of TB to protect themselves from inadvertent exposure.Help protect yourself, coworkers, patients, and visitors by: Having current TB screening according to the risk classification of your setting, Understanding the risks of TB in your work area, Practicing good infection control at work and at home. | View Page |