High-touch surfaces disinfection compliance in a COVID-19 intensive care unit.

Environmental cleaning and disinfection are fundamental health care-associated infection prevention measures. This study aimed to evaluate the disinfection compliance of high-touch surfaces in a COVID-19-only intensive care unit, using a fluorescent marker. It was divided into 3 phases, baseline assessment, educational feedback, and post feedback. Disinfection compliance improved significantly from the first to the third phase, 14.3% to 51.4% (P < .001), respectively.

Impact of In-Hospital infection with SARS-CoV-2 among Inpatients at a university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of nosocomial infection and the impact of cross-transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among inpatients at a tertiary care teaching hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study involving inpatients admitted to a tertiary university hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, between March 2020 and February 2021. Cases were identified on the basis of a positive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction result for SARS-CoV-2 and the review of electronic medical records. Nosocomial transmission was defined by applying the criteria established by the Brazilian National Health Regulatory Agency. RESULTS: We identified 2146 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 185 (8.6%) of which were considered cases of nosocomial transmission. The mean age was 58.3 years. The incidence density was 1.78 cases per 1,000 patient-days on the general wards, being highest on the cardiac surgery ward, and only 0.16 per 1,000 patient-days on the COVID-19 wards. Of the 185 patients evaluated, 115 (62.2%) were men, 150 (81.1%) cases had at least one comorbidity, and 104 (56.2%) evolved to death. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the preventive measures taken, nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred throughout our hospital. Such measures should be intensified when the incidence of community transmission peaks.

An eight-year multicenter study on short-term peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infection rates in 100 intensive care units of 9 countries in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

BACKGROUND: Data on short-term peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections per 1,000 peripheral venous catheter days (PIVCR BSIs per 1,000 PVC days) rates from Latin America are not available, so they have not been thoroughly studied. METHODS: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) members conducted a prospective, surveillance study on PIVCR BSIs from January 2010 to March 2018 in 100 intensive care units (ICUs) among 41 hospitals, in 26 cities of 9 countries in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican-Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Health Safety Network (NHSN) definitions were applied, and INICC methodology and INICC Surveillance Online System software were used. RESULTS: In total, 10,120 ICU patients were followed for 40,078 bed days and 38,262 PVC days. In addition, 79 PIVCR BSIs were identified, with a rate of 2.06 per 1,000 PVC days (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.635-2.257). The average length of stay (ALOS) of patients without a PIVCR BSI was 3.95 days, and the ALOS was 5.29 days for patients with a PIVCR BSI. The crude extra ALOS was 1.34 days (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.0975-1.6351; P = .040).The mortality rate in patients without PIVCR BSI was 3.67%, and this rate was 6.33% in patients with a PIVCR BSI. The crude extra mortality was 1.70 times higher. The microorganism profile showed 48.5% gram-positive bacteria (coagulase-negative Staphylococci 25.7%) and 48.5% gram-negative bacteria: Acinetobacter spp, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella spp (8.5% each one), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.7%), and Candida spp (2.8%). The resistances of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 0% to amikacin and 50% to meropenem. The resistance of Acinetobacter baumanii to amikacin was 0%, and the resistance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus to oxacillin was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Our PIVCR BSI rates were higher than rates from more economically developed countries and were similar to those of countries with limited resources.

Healthcare worker adherence to follow-up after occupational exposure to blood and body fluids at a teaching hospital in Brazil.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk for exposure to pathogens in the workplace. The objective of this study was to evaluate HCW adherence to follow-up after occupational exposure to blood and body fluids at a tertiary care university hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from 2102 occupational exposures to blood and body fluids reports, obtained from the Infection Control Division of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina/Hospital São Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil, occurring between January of 2005 and December of 2011. To evaluate adherence to post-exposure follow-up among the affected HCWs, we took into consideration follow-up visits for serological testing. For HCWs exposed to materials from source patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as from source patients of unknown serological status, follow-up serological testing was scheduled for 3 and 6 months after the accident. For those exposed to materials from source patients co-infected with HIV and HCV, follow-up evaluations were scheduled for 3, 6, and 12 months after the accident. During the study period, there were 2056 accidental exposures for which data regarding the serology of the source patient were available. Follow-up evaluation of the affected HCW was recommended in 612 (29.8%) of those incidents. After the implementation of a post-exposure protocol involving telephone calls and official letters mailed to the affected HCW, adherence to follow-up increased significantly, from 30.5 to 54.0% (P = 0.028). Adherence was correlated positively with being female (P = 0.009), with the source of the exposure being known (P = 0.026), with the source patient being HIV positive (P = 0.029), and with the HCW having no history of such accidents (P = 0.047). Adherence to the recommended serological testing was better at the evaluation scheduled for 3 months after the exposure (the initial evaluation) than at those scheduled for 6 and 12 months after the exposure (P = 0.004). During the study period, there was one confirmed case of HCW seroconversion to HCV positivity. The establishment of a protocol that involves the immediate supervisor of the affected HCWs, in the formal summoning of those HCWs is necessary in order to increase the rate of adherence to post-exposure follow-up.