The human error: delayed diagnosis of intravascular loss of guidewires for central venous catheterization.

We report three recent cases in which there was intravascular loss of the entire guide wire. In one case, this loss was discovered more than three months after the patient's procedure. In another case, the loss was detected one month later, and in the third case, four days was the interval of the loss. We discuss the problems of human error and failure of diagnosis, both of which were responsible for serious sequelae.

Ropivacaine 0.1% with sufentanil 1 microg/mL inhibits in vitro growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and does not promote multiplication of Staphylococcus aureus.

UNLABELLED: We investigated the effect of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil, a mixture frequently used for postoperative epidural analgesia, on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at room temperature. Aliquots of suspension of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in saline were transferred into test tubes containing either a mixture of ropivacaine 0.1% and sufentanil 1 microg/mL (R+S) or saline (SA), with the latter serving as control. At 0, 3, 6, 24, and 48 h after inoculation, 1 mL of each solution was spread over standard blood agar. The plates were incubated at 22 degrees C for 48 h, and the numbers of colony-forming units (cfu) were counted. The growth ratio for both bacterial strains was calculated as cfu time (t(n))/cfu baseline (t(0)). The primary efficacy variable was the area under the curve (AUC) in (cfu t(n)/cfu t(0)) x time, based on the growth ratios. The AUC for P. aeruginosa was significantly less in R+S than in SA (P = 0.028). Multiplication of P. aeruginosa (growth ratio >1) was observed for at least 6 h after inoculation in SA. Growth of P. aeruginosa was significantly less in R+S than in SA at 3 h (P = 0.043) and 24 h (P = 0.012) after inoculation. The AUC for S. aureus did not differ significantly between R+S and SA (P = 0.74). Neither R+S nor SA promoted multiplication of S. aureus. Forty-eight hours after inoculation, growth of S. aureus was significantly less in R+S than in SA (P < 0.0001). We conclude that R+S inhibited growth of P. aeruginosa and did not promote multiplication of S. aureus when compared with SA. IMPLICATIONS: This laboratory study demonstrated that compared with saline, ropivacaine 0.1% with 1 microg/mL of sufentanil inhibited growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and did not promote multiplication of Staphylococcus aureus at room temperature. With respect to bacterial infection with these two strains, the mixture seems to be safe for continuous epidural administration if prepared under aseptic conditions and after alcohol hand rub.

Assessment of a selective surveillance method for detecting nosocomial infections in patients in the intensive care department.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of a time- and cost-effective system for the surveillance of the nosocomial infection (NI) is a challenge for infection control practitioners. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and the time reduction using a selective surveillance method (SSM) for the detection of NIs in comparison with a reference surveillance method (RSM). METHODS: During a 12-month period, surveillance was performed prospectively in 4 intensive care departments on a rotating basis. Using the RSM, NIs were identified by prospective chart reviews performed twice a week combined with weekly infectious disease ward rounds. In the SSM, surveillance was reduced to microbiologic data and participation in the weekly infectious disease ward rounds followed by selective chart review. RESULTS: In all, 578 patients amounting to 3597 patient-days were included in the study. In total, 78 NIs among 56 patients were identified. The overall sensitivity of the SSM compared with the RSM was 93.6% (73 of 78 NIs). The sensitivity of the SSM for the most important device-associated NIs (pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections) was 96.3% (52 of 54 NIs) and 87.5% (21 of 24 NIs) for other NIs. Time required using the SSM was 1.3 hours compared with 4.1 hours per 10 beds per week (P =.0001) with the RSM. CONCLUSIONS: Within our setting, a SSM with restriction to microbiology reports and participation in the infectious disease ward rounds detected NIs with a high sensitivity and a remarkable time reduction.