No abstract

No abstract

Gastrointestinal colonization by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) provides an important reservoir for clinical infections and hospital outbreaks. We conducted a 7-month study in a 3200-bed healthcare network to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB and MRAB in Hong Kong. Between 1 June and 31 December 2014, a total of 17,760 fecal specimens from 9469 patients were screened. Testing showed that 340 (1.9%) specimens from 224 (2.6%) patients were CRAB-positive, which included 70 (0.39%) MRAB-positive specimens from 54 (0.57%) patients. The presence of wound or ulcer, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the preceding 6 months, and residence in elderly homes are independent risk factors for gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB. Quantitative bacterial counts in various body sites (rectal, nasal, axilla, wound, catheterized urine, if available) were performed in 33 (61.1%) of 54 MRAB patients. Ten (30.3%) and 8 (24.2%) patients had high bacterial load (defined as over 3 log10) in rectal and nasal swabs, with a median of 5.04 log10 cfu/ml of rectal swab and 4.89 log10 cfu/ml of nasal swab in saline diluent, respectively. Nine (81.8%) of 11 patients with wounds had high bacterial load in wound swabs, with a median of 5.62 log10 cfu/ml. Use of fluoroquinolones 6 months before admission was the only significant factor associated with high bacterial load in nasal and rectal swabs. With the implementation of directly observed hand hygiene before meals and medications to all conscious hospitalized patients, no hospital outbreaks were observed during our study period.

ObjectiveTo control nosocomial transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in resource-limited healthcare setting with high endemicity.MethodsThree phases of infection control interventions were implemented in a University-affiliated hospital between 1-January-2004 and 31-December-2012. The first phase of baseline period, defined as the first 48-months of the study period, when all MRSA patients were managed with standard precautions, followed by a second phase of 24-months, when a hospital-wide hand hygiene campaign was launched. In the third phase of 36-months, contact precautions in open cubicle, use of dedicated medical items, and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate daily bathing for MRSA-positive patients were implemented while hand hygiene campaign was continued. The changes in the incidence rates of hospital-acquired MRSA-per-1000-patient admissions, per-1000-patient-days, and per-1000-MRSA-positive-days were analyzed using segmented Poisson regression (an interrupted time series model). Usage density of broad-spectrum antibiotics was monitored.ResultsDuring the study period, 4256 MRSA-positive patients were newly diagnosed, of which 1589 (37.3%) were hospital-acquired. The reduction of hospital-acquired MRSA per 1000-patient admissions, per 1000-patient-days, and per 1000-MRSA-positive-days from phase 1 to 2 was 36.3% (p<0.001), 30.4% (p<0.001), and 19.6% (p = 0.040), while the reduction of hospital-acquired MRSA per 1000-patient admissions, per 1000-patient-days, and per 1000-MRSA-positive-days from phase 2 to 3 was 27.4% (p<0.001), 24.1% (p<0.001), and 21.9% (p = 0.041) respectively. This reduction is sustained despite that the usage density of broad-spectrum antibiotics has increased from 132.02 (phase 1) to 168.99 per 1000 patient-days (phase 3).ConclusionsNosocomial transmission of MRSA can be reduced with hand hygiene campaign, contact precautions in open cubicle, and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate daily bathing for MRSA-positive despite an increasing consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics.