Archive November 2008
Home IV service Ireland
A new community IV service is being developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE Ireland) could end the need for hundreds of older people every year to be relocated to an emergency department when they need rehydration therapy and intravenous antibiotics. On a visit to St Joseph’s Community Nursing Unit in Longford, HSE chief executive [...]
Needlestick prevention award
“The award has been designed to reward and recognize health-care institutions that are committed to providing a safer environment to their patients and staff through the use of safety-engineered devices and programs,” said Kevin Egesborg, manager of healthcare worker safety for BD Canada, the company that presented the award, which also comes with a $500 grant [...]
Alcohol handwash and drink-driving
A New Zealand doctor has been convicted of drink-driving, despite blaming an alcohol handwash he used at work. Ian Denholm, 53, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying the surgical handwash put him over the legal limit. The orthopaedic surgeon has been fined $275 (£180) and had his licence suspended for six months by a Wellington [...]
Maximal sterile barrier precautions
Lee, D.H., Jung, K.Y., Choi, Y.H. (2008) Use of maximal sterile barrier precautions and/or antimicrobial-coated catheters to reduce the risk of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 29(10), p.947-50. Abstract: Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection is clinically important because of its high mortality rate. This prospective study shows by multivariate analysis [...]
Vascular access in oncology
Gallieni, M., Pittiruti, M., Biffi, R. (2008) Vascular access in oncology patients. CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 58(6), p.323-46. Abstract: Adequate vascular access is of paramount importance in oncology patients. It is important in the initial phase of surgical treatment or chemotherapy, as well as in the chronic management of advanced cancer and in the [...]
Citrate reduces CRBSI
Winnett, G., Nolan, J., Miller, M. and Ashman, N. (2008) Trisodium citrate 46.7% selectively and safely reduces staphylococcal catheter-related bacteraemia. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 23(11), p.3592-8. Abstract: Background. Trisodium citrate (TSC) 30% has been shown in a randomized control trial to be an effective antimicrobial catheter locking solution, able to significantly reduce catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB) in haemodialysis [...]
Infection control surveillance methods
Rosenthal, V.D., Maki, D.G. and Graves, N. (2008) The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC): goals and objectives, description of surveillance methods, and operational activities. American Journal of Infection Control. 36(9), 36(9)(e1-12). Abstract: We have shown that intensive care units (ICUs) in countries with limited resources have rates of device-associated health care-associated infection (HAI), including central [...]
Nosocomial infection control
Rosenthal, V.D., Maki, D.G., Mehta, A., Alvarez-Moreno, C., Leblebicioglu, H., Higuera, F., Cuellar, L.E., Madani, N., Mitrev, Z., Duenas, L., Navoa-Ng, J.A., Garcell, H.G., Raka, L., Hidalgo, R.F., Medeiros, E.A., Kanj, S.S., Abubakar, S., Nercelles, P. and Pratesi, R.D. (2008) International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary for 2002-2007, issued January 2008. American Journal of [...]
Central line insertion bundles
Bonello, R.S., Fletcher, C.E., Becker, W.K., Clutter, K.L., Arjes, S.L., Cook, J.J. and Petzel, R.A. (2008) Joint Commission Journal on Quality & Patient Safety. 34(11), p.639-45. Abstract: Background: Measured adherence to evidence-based best practice in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, as in all of health care, remains unacceptably low. In 2005 to 2006, the VA [...]
Needle anxiety
Royle, J. and Wright, L. (2008) Needle anxiety in the clinic: a needs assessment. British Journal of Nursing. 17(20), p.1274-1279. Abstract: Background: A needs assessment for needle anxiety was carried out across people with either spinal cord injury (SCI) or spina bifida (SB). Aims: to identify the numbers of people reporting anxiety when having blood taken [...]
Eye of the needle report
Research by the Health Protection Agency found more than three quarters of staff who have been put at risk of contracting hepatitis C had not been properly followed up. Professor Mike Catchpole, Director of the Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Infections, said: “Although the numbers of reported healthcare workers infected with hepatitis C following their injury [...]
Alcohol hand gel adoption
Moody, L., Saint, S., Kaufman, S.R., Kowalski, C. and Krein, S.L. (2008) Adoption of Alcohol-Based Handrub by United States Hospitals: A National Survey. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 29(12), p.1177–1180. Abstract: The extent to which the use of alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene has been adopted by US hospitals is unknown. A survey of infection control [...]
Sharp injury in OR
Myers, D.J., Epling, C., Dement, J. and Hunt, D. (2008) Risk of Sharp Device–Related Blood and Body Fluid Exposure in Operating Rooms. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 29(12), p.1139–1148. Abstract: Objective. The risk of percutaneous blood and body fluid (BBF) exposures in operating rooms was analyzed with regard to various properties of surgical procedures. Design. [...]
Needlefree blood test
Doctors in New Zealand will soon have the option to test a patient’s haemoglobin level without taking a
Venepuncture training
Shoeman, S., O’Connor, E.F., Harrison, R., Muirhead-Smith, A., Shah, M.A. and Ware, N. (2008) Venepuncture technique training vs practice: a survey of foundation year 1 doctors. British Journal of Hospital Medicine. 69(9), p.524-8. This survey investigated potential disparity between foundation year 1 doctors’ formal undergraduate venepuncture training and their actual clinical practice. Is there still a [...]
Peripheral intravenous cannulation video
Ortega, R., Sekhar, P., Song, M., Hansen, C.J. and Peterson L. (2008) Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation. The New England Journal of Medicine. 359(21). Since this article has no abstract, below are the first 100 words from the narration of this Video in Clinical Medicine and its chapter headings. Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation Introduction: The ability to obtain peripheral [...]
Saline error child dies
Two year old Emily Jerry died at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital after a pharmaceutical technician prepared her intravenous treatment with a 23 percent saline solution instead of a typical mix of less than 1 percent, according to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. Eric Cropp is the Rainbow pharmacist whose task it was to oversee [...]
Needlestick in a general hospital
Zhang, M., Wang, H., Miao, J., Du, X., Li, T. and Wu, Z. (2008) Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers in a general hospital, China. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 10.1002/ajim.20645 Abstract: Objectives: To understand current status of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF), and awareness of knowledge about occupational [...]
Occupational blood exposure
Leiss, J.K., Lyden, J.T., Mathews, R., Sitzman, K.L., Vanderpuije, A. Mav, D., Kendra, M.A., Klein, C. and Humphrey, C.J. (2008) Blood exposure incidence rates from the North Carolina study of home care and hospice nurses. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 10.1002/ajim.20646 Abstract: Background: Home care/hospice nurses may be at elevated risk of blood exposure because of the [...]
Needlestick injury report
The Royal College of Nursing said simple shielded needles could stop most accidents and protect nurses from infections such as HIV and hepatitis. But the poll of nearly 2,000 nurses in the UK suggests that nearly half do not have access to safer needle devices. The RCN write “The RCN has called on the Government and employers in [...]
A day with Annette Jeanes at UCLH
Alice Miles in the Timesonline reports on “Spending a day with the woman charged with keeping back the tide of infection at University College London Hospital”. She writes “Most people’s daily briefings are mundane: some sales figures perhaps, a bit of staff news, an IT change. For Annette Jeanes, it is about life and death: the [...]
IV errors result in misconduct hearing
A nurse allegedly made a series of clinical mistakes, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) misconduct hearing was told yesterday. Anitha Kuttappan, 52, is said to have failed to administer an intravenous infusion, used a 2ml syringe instead of a 10ml syringe to administer intravenous drugs. Elizabeth Forbes, for the NMC, said that Kuttappan also “had [...]
Peripheral IV pain management
Leahy, S., Kennedy, R.M., Hesselgrave, J., Gurwitch, K., Barkey, M. and Millar T.F. (2008) On the front lines: lessons learned in implementing multidisciplinary peripheral venous access pain-management programs in pediatric hospitals. Pediatrics. 122, Supplement 3, p.S161-70. Abstract: Venipuncture and intravenous cannulation are among the most common and widespread medical procedures performed on children today. Therefore, effective [...]
Needlestick pain
Kennedy, R.M., Luhmann, J. and Zempsky, W.T. (2008) Clinical implications of unmanaged needle-insertion pain and distress in children. Pediatrics. 122, Supplement 3, p.S130-3. Abstract: Increasing evidence has demonstrated that pain from venipuncture and intravenous cannulation is an important source of pediatric pain and has a lasting impact. Ascending sensory neural pain pathways are functioning in preterm and [...]
Venipuncture pain reduction
Zempsky, W.T., Robbins, B. and McKay, K. (2008) Reduction of Topical Anesthetic Onset Time Using Ultrasound: A Randomized Controlled Trial Prior to Venipuncture in Young Children. Pain Medicine. 9(7), p.795-802. Abstract: Background. Ultrasound treatment prior to topical anesthetic application has been shown to speed anesthesia onset by enhancing anesthetic penetration into the skin. Objective. To evaluate a low-frequency [...]
Central venous catheter-related infection guidelines
Wolf, H.H., Leithauser, M., Maschmeyer, G., Salwender, H., Klein, U., Chaberny, I., Weissinger, F., Buchheidt, D., Ruhnke, M., Egerer, G., Cornely, O., Fatkenheuer, G. and Mousset, S. (2008) Central venous catheter-related infections in hematology and oncology : guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Oncology (DGHO). Annals of Hematology. [...]
Ultrasound basilic vein cannulation
Rose, J.S. and Norbutas, C.M. (2008) A randomized controlled trial comparing one-operator versus two-operator technique in ultrasound-guided basilic vein cannulation. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 35(4), p.431-5. Abstract: The basilic vein offers an alternative site for peripheral intravenous access for emergency access. The use of a two-operator ultrasound-guided basilic vein cannulation technique has been shown to [...]
Free EPIC2 conference 2009
Intravenous conference: A FREE intravenous therapy study day aimed at helping your hospital implement national guidelines in preventing bloodstream infections is announced. This national programme in January has been jointly developed by the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) and the EPIC2 authors/Thames Valley University. Each day is chaired by Martin Kiernan, President of the Infection Prevention Society and [...]
Intramuscular injection in neonates
Kashaninia, Z., Sajedi, F., Rahgozar, M. and Noghabi, F.A. (2008) The effect of kangaroo care on behavioral responses to pain of an intramuscular injection in neonates. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. 13(4), p.275-280. Abstract: PURPOSE. This study aims to assess the efficacy of Kangaroo Care (KC) on behavioral responses of term neonates to the pain [...]
Injection site reactions
Jolly, H., Simpson, K., Bishop, B., Hunter, H., Newell, C., Denney, D. and Oleen-Burkey, M. (2008) Impact of warm compresses on local injection-site reactions with self-administered glatiramer acetate. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 40(4), p.232-239. Abstract: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) report a number of adverse events related to immunomodulator injections, including local injection-site reactions (LISRs). [...]
Snapped needles
China said on Friday it had recalled a batch of disposable medical needles after one snapped when inserted into an infant’s vein. Health organizations were ordered to stop using the needles, made by a Shanghai-based firm, after tests on another six from the same batch showed they all broke easily. The incident with the needle was reported [...]
IV conference from IPS 2009
Intravenous conference: The IPS are celebrating the past and looking at the future. The annual Infection Prevention Society conference and exhibition will celebrate fifty years of infection prevention and control nursing. As part of the celebrations an Intravenous Therapy Conference will run concurrently with the IPS conference and exhibition. The IPS conference and exhibition will take place [...]
3rd national joint HAI conference
intravenous conference: The 3rd national joint conference on healthcare associated infection is announced. The conference ‘Everybody’s role, everybody’s responsibility: reducing infection across the community’ will take place on Wednesday 14th January 2009 at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. The Department of Health, the Royal College of Nursing and the National Patient Safety Agency are committed to joint professional [...]
Hickman line pneumothorax
Following the insertion of a “Hickman’ type tunneled silastic catheter a patient developed a pneumothorax which contributed to his death. Black Country coroner Robin Balmain, sitting in Walsall, ruled Mr Shakespeare died of natural causes, however, the family has promised to take legal action. Mr Balmain said: “I’m perfectly satisfied Mr Shakespeare had excellent care at [...]
Differential time to positivity
Acuna, M., O’Ryan, M., Cofre, J., Alvarez, I., Benadof, D., Rodriguez, P., Torres, M.T., Aguilera, L. and Santolaya, M.E. (2008) Differential time to positivity and quantitative cultures for noninvasive diagnosis of catheter-related blood stream infection in children. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(8), p.681-5. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) is necessary to [...]
Central venous catheter guidelines
Freel, A.C., Shiloach, M., Weigelt, J.A., Beilman, G.J., Mayberry, J.C., Nirula, R., Stafford, R.E., Tominaga, G.T. and Ko, C.Y. (2008) American College of Surgeons Guidelines Program: a process for using existing guidelines to generate best practice recommendations for central venous access. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 207(5), p.676-682. Abstract: Background: Many professional organizations help their [...]
Antimicrobial central venous catheter
Lorente, L., Lecuona, M., Ramos, M.J., Jimenez, A., Mora, M.L. and Sierra, A. (2008) The use of rifampicin-miconazole-impregnated catheters reduces the incidence of femoral and jugular catheter-related bacteremia. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 47(9), p.1171-5. Abstract: BACKGROUND: The guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend the use of an antimicrobial- or antiseptic-impregnated [...]
Central venous catheter choice
Graham, J., Hiremath, S., Magner, P.O., Knoll, G.A. and Burns, K.D. (2008) Factors influencing the prevalence of central venous catheter use in a Canadian haemodialysis centre. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 23(11), p.3585-3591. Abstract: Background. The arteriovenous (AV) fistula is the optimal vascular access for chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients. The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS [...]
Vascular access complications
Zaritsky, J.J., Salusky, I.B., Gales, B., Ramos, G., Atkinson, J., Allsteadt, A., Brandt, M.L. and Goldstein, S.L. (2008) Vascular access complications in long-term pediatric hemodialysis patients. Pediatric Nephrology. 23(11), p.2061-5. Abstract: Current data demonstrate pediatric patients who remain on hemodialysis (HD) therapy are more likely to be dialyzed via central venous catheters (CVCs) than arteriovenous [...]
Central venous catheter-associated infections
Zingg, W., Cartier-Fassler, V., Walder, B. (2008) Central venous catheter-associated infections. Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology.22(3), p.407-421. Abstract: Most patients in the hospital need vascular access: a peripheral venous line, a short-term non-cuffed central venous catheter (CVC), a long-term cuffed CVC, an implantable port or an arterial line. Such devices, although often indispensable and [...]
Central venous catheter outcomes
Zganjer, M., Cizmic, A., Butkovic, D., Matolic, M., Karaman-Ilic, M. and Stepan, J. (2008) Central Venous Catheters for Chemotherapy of Solid Tumors – Our Results in the Last 5 Years. Collegium Antropologicum. 32(3), p.767-770. Abstract: Central venous catheters provide an easy access for intravenous medications. Having a central line in place will relieve a child from [...]
CRBSI catheter comparison
Lorente, L., Jimenez, A., Garcia, C., Galvan, R., Castedo, J., Martin, M.M. and Mora, M.L. (2008) Catheter-related bacteremia from femoral and central internal jugular venous access. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 27(9), p.867-871. Abstract: The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine the influence of femoral and central internal jugular [...]
Alternative vascular access technique
Chen, P.T., Yen, C.R., Wang, C.C., Sung, C.S., Chang, W.K. and Chan, K.H (2008) A Modified Supraclavicular Approach for Central Venous Catheterization by Manipulation of Ventilation in Ventilated Patients. Seminars in Dialysis. 21(5). p.469-473. Abstract: Background: Because of overuse and multiple implantations of hemodialysis catheters through internal jugular or subclavian vein (SCV) in patients with chronic [...]
Hand hygiene compliance
Pan, A., Domenighini, F., Signorini, L., Assini, R., Catenazzi, P., Lorenzotti, S., Patroni, A., Carosi, G. and Guerrini, G. (2008) Adherence to hand hygiene in an Italian long-term care facility. American Journal of Infection Control. 36(7), p.1527-3296. Abstract: In an Italian long-term-care facility (LTCF), we observed a 17.5% adherence to hand hygiene (HH), as well as [...]
Dialysis conference 2009
Intravenous conference: The Annual Dialysis Conference: the Twenty-ninthth Annual Conference on Peritoneal Dialysis, Fifteenth International Symposium on Hemodialysis and Twentieth Annual Symposium on Pediatric Dialysis is presented by the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology; Continuing Medical Education; the University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing; and the Academy [...]
Insulin pump design
Juri Bukvald has designed an insulin pump with an original design with a clear function, simple and perfect shaping. Juri states… “For a diabetic is vital to know his or her sugar level in the blood. Therefore I designed a large OLED display placed on a clip so it would be always legible and clear. The [...]
Clinical skills conference
The Third International Clinical Skills Conference organisers invite the submission of abstracts on papers for presentation at the conference. Abstracts should relate to research in clinical skills education at undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing health professional levels. The Third International Clinical Skills Conference is in Prato, Tuscany and will look at researching clinical skills and showcasing best [...]
Central venous access team
Addenbrookes’s and the Rosie hospitals (UK) say they are winning the fight against infection after their first month on record without a single case of MRSA. The hospital puts the progress down to the hard work of staff, vigilance on hand-washing and the presence of a special team who insert central venous lines for patients undergoing [...]
Infection control for dialysis
To prevent transmission of both bacteria and bloodborne viruses in hemodialysis settings, CDC recommends that all single-use injectable medications and solutions be dedicated for use on a single patient and be entered one time only. Medications packaged as multidose should be assigned to a single patient whenever possible. All parenteral medications should be prepared in a [...]
HIV blood transfusion debate
The blood transfusion service today warned against calls to allow gay men to make donations. National director Keith Thompson told the Scottish Parliament that HIV infection was rising among gay men. In a letter to the public petitions committee, Mr Thompson said one-third of HIV-infected blood samples are later revealed to be from gay men. However, [...]
Copper fights infection
A study carried out at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham has shown that surfaces made with materials that contain copper kill a wide range of potentially harmful micro-organisms – significantly reducing the number of these organisms that can come into contact with patients, visitors and staff. The study found that, when tested, items made from copper [...]
Contaminated stopcocks
Loftus, R., Koff, M., Burchman, C., Schwartzman, J., Thorum, V., Read, M. Wood, T. and Beach, M. (2008) Transmission of Pathogenic Bacterial Organisms in the Anesthesia Work Area. Anesthesiology. 109(3), p.399-407. Abstract: Background: The current prevalence of hospital-acquired infections and evolving amplification of bacterial resistance are major public health concerns. A heightened awareness of intraoperative transmission [...]
Medication errors in anesthesia
Yamamoto, M., Ishikawa, S. and Makita, K. (2008) Medication errors in anesthesia: an 8-year retrospective analysis at an urban university hospital. Journal of Anesthesia. 22(3), p.248-252. Abstract: Purpose The Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA) has investigated critical events in several fields of anesthesiology. However, the types, frequency, and characteristics of medication errors related to anesthesia have [...]
