Sônia Regina Pérez Evangelista Dantas

Impact of Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens Colonizing the Respiratory Secretions of Patients in an Extended-Care Area of the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of acquired infection, and the incidence, risk factors, and molecular typing of multidrug-resistant bacterial organisms (MROs) colonizing respiratory secretions or the oropharynx of patients in an extended-care area of the emergency department (ED) in a tertiary-care university hospital. METHODS A case-control study was conducted regarding risk factors for colonization with MROs in ED patients from July 1996 to August 1998. The most prevalent MRO strains were determined using plasmid and genomic analysis with PFGE. RESULTS MROs colonized 59 (25.4%) of 232 ED patients and 173 controls. The mean ED length of stay for the 59 cases was 13.9 days versus 9.8 days for the 173 controls. The mean length of stay prior to the first isolation of MROs was 9.9 days. MRO species included Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rate of hospital-acquired infection was 32.7 per 1,000 ED patient-days. The case fatality rate was significantly higher for cases. Univariate analysis identified mechanical ventilation, nebulization, nasogastric intubation, urinary catheterization, antibiotic therapy, and number of antibiotics as risk factors for MRO colonization. Multivariate regression analysis found that mechanical ventilation and nasogastric intubation independently predicted MRO colonization. Endemic clones were identified by PFGE in ED patients and were also found in patients in other parts of the hospital. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged stay in the ED posed a risk for colonization with MROs and for contracting nosocomial infections, both of which were associated with increased mortality. Patients colonized with antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii may serve as a reservoir for spread in this hospital.

Successful prevention of the transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a Brazilian public teaching hospital

INTRODUCTION Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) can colonize or cause infections in high-risk patients and contaminate the environment. Our objective was to describe the epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of VRE, the interventions made, and their impact on its control. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, non-comparative study by reviewing the charts of patients with a VRE-positive culture in the University Hospital of Campinas State University, comprising 380 beds, 40 of which were in intensive care units (ICUs), who were admitted from February 2008-January 2009. Interventions were divided into educational activity, reviewing the workflow processes, engineering measures, and administrative procedures. RESULTS There were 150 patients, 139 (92.7%) colonized and 11 (7.3%) infected. Seventy-three percent were cared for in non-ICUs (p = 0.028). Infection was more frequent in patients with a central-line (p = 0.043), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.013), urinary catheter (p = 0.049), or surgical drain (p = 0.049). Vancomycin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and third-generation cephalosporin were previously used by 47 (31.3%), 31 (20.7%), 24 (16%), and 24 (16%) patients, respectively. Death was more frequent in infected (73%) than in colonized (17%) patients (p < 0.001). After the interventions, the attack rate fell from 1.49 to 0.33 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Classical risk factors for VRE colonization or infection, e.g., being cared for in an ICU and previous use of vancomycin, were not found in this study. The conjunction of an educational program, strict adhesion to contact precautions, and reinforcement of environmental cleaning were able to prevent the dissemination of VRE.

Equipe interdisciplinar reduz infecção sanguínea relacionada ao cateter venoso central em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of interdisciplinary interventions on central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections rates in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and on the bloodstream infection organisms. METHODS: Interventional study type before-and-after. An educational program was performed and an interdisciplinary team of interventions was created. This team was formed by nurses and doctors of the PICU and of the Infection Control Committee. The interventions were composed by direct and indirect educational and procedural measures. Task-force interventions were developed from Jun/2003 to May/2004. This pre-intervention period (Phase 1) was compared with two post-intervention periods: Phases 2 (Jun/2004 to May/2005) and 3 (Jun/2005 to May/2006). Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection rates during the three periods were compared by ANOVA, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: 1,234 patients were studied from June 1st 2003 to May 31, 2006. The number of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections was 22.72 per 1,000 catheter-days in Phase 1, and 6.81 and 5.87 in Phases 2 and 3 respectively (Phase 1 vs Phase 2 and 3; p<0.001). Gram-positive organisms were isolated in 57% of bloodstream infections in Phase 1, and 45 and 58% in Phases 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The interdisciplinary educational approach and the central venous catheter insertion policies were effective to reduce central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Low prevalence of vancomycin resistant enterococci colonization in intensive care patients in a Brazilian teaching hospital

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important pathogens involved in nosocomial infections. Colonization precedes infection and the number of colonized individuals is about 10 times higher than the number of infected patients. We examined VRE colonization in two intensive care units from October 2003 to June 2004. Perirectal swab specimens were obtained from all patients, starting on the 5th day after admission, and then weekly. A total of 249 swabs were obtained from 112 patients. Nine patients had VRE-positive swabs, giving a positive rate of 8.0%. The rate of patients colonized by V-R E. faecalis was 1.8% (n=2), 4.5% by V-R E. gallinarun (n=5) and 1.8% by V-R E. casseliflavus (n=2). No V-R E. faeciun was isolated. None of the patients that had been colonized by VRE were found to be infected by these pathogens. In summary, a low prevalence of colonization by VRE was found in our institution. Only a structured surveillance program, based on active searching, was able to detect this low number of cases.

TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION OF THE BATES-JENSEN WOUND ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR THE BRAZILIAN CULTURE

Methodological study aimed at translating and adapting The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool for the Brazilian culture, through five stages: translation, synthesis, back translation, review by an expert panel, and, testing of the translated version. The Portuguese version was evaluated by 28 nurses who tested the understanding and practicality of the items. The expert panel evaluated the equivalence between the original and translated versions, resulting in concordance lower than 80% for seven items of the General Guidelines, which were modified. In the instrument, 13 items obtained a concordance rate exceeding 80%, except for Wound Status Continuum, which achieved 40%. Testing the translated version indicated good practicality. The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool is available in Brazil for research and use in clinical practice. Reliability and validity testing should be considered in future studies. DESCRIPTORS: Translation. Nursing, methodology research. Wound healing. Nursing assessment.

TRADUÇÃO E ADAPTAÇÃO DO BATES-JENSEN WOUND ASSESSMENT TOOL PARA CULTURA BRASILEIRA

Methodological study aimed at translating and adapting The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool for the Brazilian culture, through five stages: translation, synthesis, back translation, review by an expert panel, and, testing of the translated version. The Portuguese version was evaluated by 28 nurses who tested the understanding and practicality of the items. The expert panel evaluated the equivalence between the original and translated versions, resulting in concordance lower than 80% for seven items of the General Guidelines, which were modified. In the instrument, 13 items obtained a concordance rate exceeding 80%, except for Wound Status Continuum, which achieved 40%. Testing the translated version indicated good practicality. The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool is available in Brazil for research and use in clinical practice. Reliability and validity testing should be considered in future studies. DESCRIPTORS: Translation. Nursing, methodology research. Wound healing. Nursing assessment.

TRADUCCIÓN Y ADAPTACIÓN DE LA BATES-JENSEN WOUND ASSESSMENT TOOL PARA LA CULTURA BRASILEÑA

Methodological study aimed at translating and adapting The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool for the Brazilian culture, through five stages: translation, synthesis, back translation, review by an expert panel, and, testing of the translated version. The Portuguese version was evaluated by 28 nurses who tested the understanding and practicality of the items. The expert panel evaluated the equivalence between the original and translated versions, resulting in concordance lower than 80% for seven items of the General Guidelines, which were modified. In the instrument, 13 items obtained a concordance rate exceeding 80%, except for Wound Status Continuum, which achieved 40%. Testing the translated version indicated good practicality. The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool is available in Brazil for research and use in clinical practice. Reliability and validity testing should be considered in future studies. DESCRIPTORS: Translation. Nursing, methodology research. Wound healing. Nursing assessment.

948Impact of active surveillance program to control VRE in a university hospital with low endemic rates

BACKGROUND Several strategies have been implemented to control VRE in hospital outbreaks. The delay in time for detecting the initial VRE colonization/infection may lead to a huge hospital dissemination. A major goal in healthcare facilities has been to stop VRE transmission. VRE was first isolated in our hospital in June 2007, from a urine culture of a patient from the gastroenterology clinic with an advanced stage of cirrhosis. From 2007 to 2009, a VRE outbreak in our hospital was controlled with: active surveillance of rectal swabs, isolation of colonized/infected patients, barrier precautions and antibiotic policies . Since 2009, protocols of control measures have been continuously implemented. This study evaluated the impact of maintaining the protocols for controlling VRE colonization/infection during the period of 2010 to July 2014 compared to the study done in 2007 to 2009