Hanako Misao

Efficacy of 1.0% chlorhexidine-gluconate ethanol compared with 10% povidone-iodine for long-term central venous catheter care in hematology departments: a prospective study.

The efficacy of 1% chlorhexidine-gluconate ethanol and 10% povidone-iodine for skin antisepsis of central venous catheter (CVC) sites were compared among hematology patients. The CVC site colonization rates of those groups were 11.9% and 29.2%, respectively, and the catheter-associated blood stream infections were 0.75 and 3.62 per 1,000 catheter-days, respectively. One percent chlorhexidine-gluconate ethanol was superior to povidone-iodine to reduce skin colonizers at CVC sites even when catheters were used for long duration.

Development of Index for Compliance on Hand Hygiene Using a Nursing Need Degree and Hand Hygiene Product Usage

goal of 25%. Nursing staff had a better overall understanding of their impact on the reduction and prevention of healthcare associated urinary tract infections. The back to basics approach proved to have the greatest impact on staff education and improved patient outcomes. Lesson Learned: The study uncovered varying understandings of collection techniques of specimen; including patient education of specimen self collection and specimen handling per staff. Staff self disclosures identified inaccuracy in specimen collection as related to source in physicians orders and policies related to indwelling devices. Audits revealed errors in infection rate based on incomplete discontinuation of the urinary catheter in the record.