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Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 2 aged care homes (ACHs) and examine the extent to which presumed UTIs met the 2012 McGeer infection surveillance definitions., Design: Retrospective observational study., Setting: Two ACHs: a 30-bed facility and a 100-bed facility PARTICIPANTS: Residents of the 2 ACHs diagnosed with UTI., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of UTIs clinically diagnosed at the 2 facilities over a 16-month period, utilizing surveillance and microbiologic data, resident progress notes, and medication charts. This data was reviewed to determine how many diagnosed UTIs met the revised McGeer definitions., Results: Overall, 119 UTIs were diagnosed in 57 residents over 16 months. Only 7 of the diagnosed UTIs met the McGeer definitions. Forty-seven did not meet the clinical evidence, 17 did not meet the microbiologic evidence, and 48 did not meet either surveillance criteria., Conclusions: This study demonstrated the disparity between the clinical diagnosis of UTI and the surveillance definitions for UTI, and highlights the limitations of the McGeer definitions in those with cognitive or communication deficits. There is an urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship programs and education in the ACH setting., (Copyright © 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report an outbreak of parainfluenza 3, which had an attack rate of 30%, in a residential care facility in Melbourne, Australia. One-fifth of affected residents required hospitalization, but there were no deaths. The outbreak demonstrated the value of active surveillance and early microbiologic testing and the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship programs in the aged care setting., (Copyright © 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Microfiber and steam technology is a novel cleaning method that has advantages for clinical applications. We describe its use in the operating room. The benefits include improved cleaning for every patient regardless of known or perceived risk, occupational health and safety advantages, and reduced cost of cleaning, allowing for expansion of cleaning activity without the need for additional human resources. Continuous surgical site infection surveillance demonstrated that infections remained at previously low levels., (Copyright © 2016 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cleaning standards measuring compliance using visual auditing alone can be misleading, because visually clean surfaces might not be cleaned of pathogens. An evidence-based system using both visual auditing and ultraviolet marker (UVM) assessments is recommended. Using a UVM system has enabled our health service to measure infection risk and implement actions to improve results. We recommend adopting a combined monitoring process using visual auditing with UVM audits to enhance cleaning and reduce the risk of health care-associated infection., (Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe successful termination of an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) colonization within a neonatal service., Setting: Multisite neonatal intensive care unit and special care nurseries within a single health care service., Participants: Forty-four cases of VREfm-colonized neonatal inpatients-including 2 clinical isolates (eye swab and catheter-urine specimen) and 42 screening isolates., Interventions: Active surveillance cultures, patient isolation, contact precautions, enhanced environment cleaning, and staff and parent education. Whole genome sequencing and multilocus sequence typing were used to characterize the outbreak and refine infection control procedures., Results: Peak prevalence of VREfm colonization across all sites was 31% upon discovery of the outbreak. Subsequent to the intervention, transmission was halted within 8 weeks and no further isolates of the outbreak strain have been detected as of 12 months following outbreak cessation. Environmental swabs revealed VREfm colonization of baby-weighing scales, a baby bath, and a pharmacy refrigerator within the neonatal intensive care unit. All isolates were of a single multilocus sequence type (sequence type 796) and highly clonal at the core genome level., Conclusions: Bundled infection control interventions were effective in rapidly terminating a clonal outbreak of sequence type 796 VREfm colonization within a neonatal inpatient service. Strain-typing and active surveillance cultures were critical in guiding the management of this outbreak. The closed environment of a neonatal unit likely facilitated eradication of the patient and environment reservoirs of VREfm colonization., (Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The use of microfiber and steam technology may be seen as a novel cleaning method that can improve the outcome of cleaning. We describe its use in an intensive care setting, its impact on vancomycin-resistant enterococci acquisition, and the importance of ensuring adequate education of cleaning staff. Such new methods can have a significant impact on the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms, provided systems are in place to ensure that the methodology is adhered to and that cleaning hours are adequate., (Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The environment is a well-known source of health care-acquired infection. Because of the known risk of contamination, patient privacy curtains require frequent changes to decrease the risk of spread from patients to curtain and visa versa., Methods: Fourteen disposable sporicidal privacy curtains were tested from December 2012 to June 2013 while hanging in a busy intensive care unit. Significant bacterial pathogens were identified and total bacteria enumerated as colony-forming units. Antimicrobial activity of curtain swatches was also tested against a range of bacteria in the laboratory. Measurements were recorded as zone of inhibition and contact inhibition. A cost analysis to replace standard curtains with disposable sporicidal curtains was also undertaken., Results: Cultures grew low numbers of skin and environmental microorganisms with no methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or Clostridium difficile detected. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were recovered in very low numbers from 2 curtains where vancomycin-resistant enterococci-infected patients had been located. Privacy curtains demonstrated antimicrobial activity against C difficile and 13 additional bacterial pathogens., Conclusion: We conclude that disposable sporicidal privacy curtains are cost-effective and best replaced at 6 months in a high-risk area such as an intensive care unit., (Copyright © 2014 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis occurring concurrently over two wards. Environmental cleaning was managed using two different methodologies: one ward utilized the traditional 2-step method, the other using microfiber-steam technology. Environmental cleaning using the microfiber-steam technology proved to be an effective and efficient cleaning methodology, appropriate for use during an outbreak situation., (Copyright © 2013 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Effective cleaning of elements in the health care environment has a crucial role in reducing the risk of health care-acquired infection. We assessed ultramicrofiber cloth and steam technology in 2 clinical settings. This new technology performed extremely well. Our pilot study supports using ultramicrofiber cloth and steam technology as an alternative to cleaning with chemicals., (Copyright © 2013 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Antimicrobial stewardship programs are important preventative strategies to reduce hospital-acquired infection, typically involving medical and pharmacy staff. Because nurses are pivotal in administering medication prescribed by medical staff and filled by pharmacy staff, we assessed nursing attitudes and antimicrobial stewardship knowledge before and after an education intervention that focused on nursing involvement in antimicrobial management. This study supports involving nurses as a means of improving antibiotic stewardship., (Copyright © 2013 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Environmental surfaces are likely to contribute to the transmission of health care-associated pathogens. The present study aimed to determine the most effective regimen or product for removing bioburden. An adenosine triphosphate assessment technique was used to compare cleaning methods and products for removing bioburden from soiled surfaces. Of the regimens or products tested, 2-step cleaning most thoroughly removed bioburden. The 2-in-1 products were no more effective in removing bioburden than a 1-step clean using a neutral detergent., (Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)