The efficacy of daily chlorhexidine bathing for preventing healthcare-associated infections in adult intensive care units

Bathing with wipes impregnated with chlorhexidine gluconate to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infection in critically ill patients: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recommendations for different types of bathing to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are still divergent. The objective of this study was to verify whether bed bathing with wipes impregnated with 2% chlorhexidine (CHG) compared to conventional bed bathing is more effective in preventing CLABSI.

METHODS

Systematic review of the literature by consulting the electronic databases PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science from the date of inception until July 1, 2023, with no language or time restrictions.

RESULTS

A total of 84,462 studies were examined, of which 6 were included in the meta-analysis. Data from 20,188 critical care patients included in primary studies were analyzed. The meta-analysis found that bed bathing with wipes impregnated with 2% CHG reduced the risk of CLABSI by 48% compared to conventional bed bathing (risk ratio 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.73), and this is moderate-quality evidence. The reduction in length of stay in the intensive care unit and length of hospital stay as well as the risk of death were not significantly different between the study groups. Whether bed bathing with 2% CHG-impregnated wipes increases the occurrence of skin reactions is unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis provides moderate-quality evidence that daily bathing with 2% CHG-impregnated wipes is safe and helps prevent CLABSI among adult intensive care unit patients.

"Beyond the Guidelines" - Deviations in Adherence to Infection Control Measures in Tyrolean hospitals, Austria

BACKGROUND

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) represent increasing problems in health-care facilities worldwide. Adequate infection control measures are key elements in preventing those infections. Expert societies have published recommendations that help to reduce HAI.

METHODS

In November 2019, a questionnaire-based point-prevalence survey, eliciting the adherence of 14 Tyrolean hospitals to the recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was performed. Additionally, standard infection control measures performed by different medical (clinical and infection control specialists) disciplines as well as the performed infection control measures of nurses and physicians were compared.

RESULTS

The survey revealed varying adherence to CDC-recommendations of different medical disciplines, with highest congruence by the infection control specialists and lower congruencies by all surveyed clinical disciplines. Concordance rate between nurses and physicians was high.

DISCUSSION

Explanations for the varying congruencies of clinical disciplines on the one hand and the infection control specialists on the other hand may be versatile. Possible lacks of knowledge about the required hygiene measures should be taken into account.

CONCLUSION

The present survey showed moderate adherence of Tyrolean hospitals to the recommendations provided by CDC, however with noticeable differences between different medical disciplines. Nurses and doctors in most cases reported identically.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection reduction in critical care units: a bundled care model

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) represent approximately 9% of all hospital acquired infections, and approximately 65%–70% of CAUTIs are believed to be preventable. In the spring of 2013, Boston Medical Center (BMC) began an initiative to decrease CAUTI rates within its intensive care units (ICUs). A CAUTI taskforce convened and reviewed process maps and gap analyses. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) guidelines, and delineated by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee 2009 guidelines, all BMC ICUs sequentially implemented plan–do–study–act cycles based on which measures were most easily adaptable and believed to have the highest impact on CAUTI rates. Implementation of five care bundles spanned 5 years and included (1) processes for insertion and maintenance of foley catheters; (2) indications for indwelling foley catheters; (3) appropriate testing for CAUTIs; (4) alternatives to indwelling devices; and (5) sterilisation techniques. Daily rounds by unit nursing supervisors and inclusion of foley catheter necessity on daily ICU checklists held staff accountable on a daily basis. With these interventions, the total number of CAUTIs at BMC decreased from 53 in 2013 to 9 in 2017 (83% reduction) with a 33.8% reduction in indwelling foley catheter utilisation during the same time period. Adapted protocols showed success in decreasing the CAUTI rate and indwelling foley catheter usage in all of the BMC ICU’s. While all interventions had favourable and additive trends towards decreasing the CAUTI rate, the CAUTI awareness education, insertion and removal protocols and implementation of PureWick female incontinence devices had clear and significant effects on decreasing CAUTI rates. Our project provides a framework for improving HAIs using rapid cycle testing and U-chart data monitoring. Targeted education efforts and standardised checklists and protocols adapted sequentially are low-cost and high yield efforts that may decrease CAUTIs in ICU settings.

[Effect of 2% Chlorhexidine Bathing on the Incidence of Hospital-Acquired Infection and Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Adult Intensive Care Unit Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis]

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed the effects of 2% chlorhexidine bathing on the incidence of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in adult intensive care units.

METHODS

PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane library, and RISS database were systematically searched, and 12 randomized studies were included in the analysis. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3.0 was used to calculate the effect size using the odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis was performed according to the specific infection and intervention types.

RESULTS

In general, 2% chlorhexidine bathing has a significant effect on the incidence of HAI (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40~0.86) and MDRO (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34~0.79). Subgroup analyses show 2% chlorhexidine bathing is effective in bloodstream infections (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.39~0.66) but not for urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia infections, and Clostridium difficile infections. Moreover, 2% chlorhexidine bathing alone or its combination with other interventions has a significant effect on the incidence of HAI and MDRO (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38~0.92).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis reveals that 2% chlorhexidine bathing significantly reduces the incidence of HAI and MDRO in intensive care units. The effect of 2% chlorhexidine bathing on pediatric patients or patients at general wards should be further assessed as a cost-effective intervention for infection control.

The antiseptic Miramistin: a review of its comparative in vitro and clinical activity

Miramistin is a topical antiseptic with broad antimicrobial action, including activity against biofilms and a clinical profile showing good tolerability. Miramistin was developed within a framework of the Soviet Union Cold War Space Program. It is available for clinical use in several prior Soviet bloc countries, but barely known outside of these countries and there is almost no mention of miramistin in the English literature. However, considering emerging antimicrobial resistance, the significant potential of miramistin justifies its re-evaluation for use in other geographical areas and conditions. The review consists of two parts: (i) a review of the existing literature on miramistin in English, Russian and Ukrainian languages; (ii) a summary of most commonly used antiseptics as comparators of miramistin. The oral LD50 was 1200 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 100 g/L in rats, mice and fish, respectively. Based on the results of the review, we suggest possible applications of miramistin and potential benefits over currently used agents. Miramistin offers a novel, low toxicity antiseptic with many potential clinical uses that need better study which could address some of the negative impact of antimicrobial, antiseptic and disinfectant resistance.

Chlorhexidine bathing to prevent healthcare-associated vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infections: A cluster quasi-experimental controlled study at intensive care units

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), a multidrug-resistant, difficult-to-treat pathogen of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), is now endemic at many intensive care units (ICUs). Chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing is a simple and highly effective intervention to decrease VRE acquisition, but its effect on VRE-HAIs has not been assessed in prospective studies at ICUs.

METHODS

This is a cluster quasi-experimental controlled study. Under active VRE surveillance and contact isolation of all identified VRE carriers, four ICUs were assigned to provide 2% CHG bathing for all patients on a daily basis (CHG group) during the intervention period, while another four ICUs were assigned to provide standard care without CHG bathing for all patients (standard care group) during the same period.

RESULTS

The CHG group (n = 1501) had a 62% lower crude incidence of VRE-HAIs during the intervention period, compared with the baseline period (1.0 vs. 2.6 per thousand patient-days, P = 0.009), while VRE-HAIs incidence did not change in standard care group (n = 3299) (1.1 vs. 0.5 per thousand patient-days, P = 0.139). In multivariable analyses, CHG bathing was independently associated with a 70% lower risk of VRE-HAIs (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2 to 0.7, P = 0.006). In contrast, standard care during the same period had no effect on the risk of VRE-HAIs (adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI: 0.7 to 4.7, P = 0.259).

CONCLUSION

CHG bathing is a highly effective approach to prevent VRE-HAIs at ICUs, in the context of active VRE surveillance with contact isolation.

Central-line-associated bloodstream infections in a surgical paediatric intensive care unit: Risk factors and prevention with chlorhexidine bathing

AIM

The aims of the study are to evaluate the impact of a 4% chlorhexidine (CHG4%) bathing on the occurrence of central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and to identify risk factors (RFs) for CLABSI in our population. This is a retrospective monocentric cohort study in the paediatric surgical intensive care unit at the Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.

METHODS

All hospitalised patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) in 2015 were included. CHG4% bathing was prescribed in CLABSI high-risk patients, defined by the presence of exposition factors (EFs): constitutive or acquired immunosuppression, presence of an invasive medical device (IMD) and the carriage of Staphylococcus aureus. The overall 2015 CLABSI incidence rate was compared with 2014 CLABSI incidence rate (before CHG4% bathing).

RESULTS

In all, 775 patients were analysed. Some 182 had at least one EF, and 49 received CHG4%. The incidence rates of CLABSI in 2014 and 2015 were, respectively, 6.1 and 2.3/1000 days CVC (P < 0.01). The presence of at least one EF was associated with the CLABSI's occurrence: odds ratio = 15.13 (95% confidence interval: 4.26-53.71; P < 0.0001), particularly acquired immunosuppression, IMD and S. aureus colonisation. Other RFs were age <1 year and carrying duration >16 days.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a significant reduction in incidence of CLABSI after introduction of a targeted CHG4% bathing protocol. Presence of IMD, S. aureus colonisation, immunosuppression, age <1 year and carrying duration >16 days were CLABSI RFs. Regarding the literature, the presence of IMD seems to be underestimated in CLABSI prevention.

Can we reduce contact precautions days for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus infected patients?

BACKGROUND

Patients with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin resistant Enterococcus) are placed under contact precautions according to the Center of Disease Control protocol. Contact precautions however increases patient isolation from Health Care Workers, increase overall hospital costs and may increase depression and anxiety. Our aim in this study was to observe the effects of shortening the number of days of contact precautions for patients infected with MRSA and VRE.

METHOD

We observed patients as two cohorts (Pre-Pilot and Pilot) in one Medical Intensive Care Unit, one Surgical Intensive Care Unit & two medical floors during 2014-2015. In the Pre-pilot period contact precautions were kept throughout admission. In the Pilot period contact precautions were initially placed followed by universal gloving. Comparisons were made for MRSA and VRE infection rates. Total costs were estimated assuming the average cost of 1 gown was $26 per patient per day.

RESULTS

Mean isolation days were reduced from 11.9 days to 6.8 days for MRSA and 12.8 days to 8.4 days for VRE. There were 86 MRSA infections in the Pre-Pilot period and 73 MRSA infections during the Pilot period (p=0.052). Incidence of hospital acquired MRSA in the wards decreased from 15 to 7 cases and 6 to 2 cases in the Intensive Care Unit in both the Pilot and Pre-Pilot periods respectively. Cost reduced by $2476 and $17,336 per month for VRE and MRSA patients. Number of readmissions also decreased by 39% for MRSA and 50% for VRE.

CONCLUSIONS

A reduction in contact precautions has reduced patient costs without affecting the rate of MRSA and VRE infection within a one-year period.

You get back what you give: Decreased hospital infections with improvement in CHG bathing, a mathematical modeling and cost analysis

BACKGROUND

Multiple studies have shown that bathing with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipes reduces hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). We employed a mathematical model to assess the impact of CHG patient bathing on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and hospital-onset Clostridium difficile (C diff) infections and the associated costs.

METHODS

Using a Markov chain, we examined the effect of CHG bathing compliance on HAI outcomes and the associated costs. Using estimates from 2 different studies on CHG bathing effectiveness for CLABSI, CAUTI, and C diff, the number of HAIs per year were estimated along with associated costs. The simulations were conducted, assuming CHG bathing at varying compliance rates.

RESULTS

At 32% reduction in HAI incidence, increasing CHG bathing compliance from 60% to 90% results in 20 averted infections and $815,301.75 saved cost.

CONCLUSIONS

As CHG bathing compliance increases, yearly HAIs decrease, and the overall cost associated with the HAIs also decreases.

Implementation of chlorhexidine gluconate bathing to reduce HAIs

A nurse leader-led evidence-based practice change.

Chlorhexidine bathing of the critically ill for the prevention of hospital-acquired infection

BACKGROUND

Hospital-acquired infection is a frequent adverse event in patient care; it can lead to longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU), additional medical complications, permanent disability or death. Whilst all hospital-based patients are susceptible to infections, prevalence is particularly high in the ICU, where people who are critically ill have suppressed immunity and are subject to increased invasive monitoring. People who are mechanically-ventilated are at infection risk due to tracheostomy and reintubation and use of multiple central venous catheters, where lines and tubes may act as vectors for the transmission of bacteria and may increase bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Chlorhexidine is a low-cost product, widely used as a disinfectant and antiseptic, which may be used to bathe people who are critically ill with the aim of killing bacteria and reducing the spread of hospital-acquired infections.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of chlorhexidine bathing on the number of hospital-acquired infections in people who are critically ill.

SEARCH METHODS

In December 2018 we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid Embase and EBSCO CINAHL Plus. We also searched clinical trial registries for ongoing and unpublished studies, and checked reference lists of relevant included studies as well as reviews, meta-analyses and health technology reports to identify additional studies. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared chlorhexidine bathing with soap-and-water bathing of patients in the ICU.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data and undertook risk of bias and GRADE assessment of the certainty of the evidence .

MAIN RESULTS

We included eight studies in this review. Four RCTs included a total of 1537 individually randomised participants, and four cluster-randomised cross-over studies included 23 randomised ICUs with 22,935 participants. We identified one study awaiting classification, for which we were unable to assess eligibility.The studies compared bathing using 2% chlorhexidine-impregnated washcloths or dilute solutions of 4% chlorhexidine versus soap-and-water bathing or bathing with non-antimicrobial washcloths.Eight studies reported data for participants who had a hospital-acquired infection during the ICU stay. We are uncertain whether using chlorhexidine for bathing of critically ill people reduces the rate of hospital-acquired infection, because the certainty of the evidence is very low (rate difference 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12 to 3.29; 21,924 participants). Six studies reported mortality (in hospital, in the ICU, and at 48 hours). We cannot be sure whether using chlorhexidine for bathing of critically-ill people reduces mortality, because the certainty of the evidence is very low (odds ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.99; 15,798 participants). Six studies reported length of stay in the ICU. We noted that individual studies found no evidence of a difference in length of stay; we did not conduct meta-analysis because data were skewed. It is not clear whether using chlorhexidine for bathing of critically ill people reduced length of stay in the ICU, because the certainty of the evidence is very low. Seven studies reported skin reactions as an adverse event, and five of these reported skin reactions which were thought to be attributable to the bathing solution. Data in these studies were reported inconsistently and we were unable to conduct meta-analysis; we cannot tell whether using chlorhexidine for bathing of critically ill people reduced adverse events, because the certainty of the evidence is very low.We used the GRADE approach to downgrade the certainty of the evidence of each outcome to very low. For all outcomes, we downgraded evidence because of study limitations (most studies had a high risk of performance bias, and we noted high risks of other bias in some studies). We downgraded evidence due to indirectness, because some participants in studies may have had hospital-acquired infections before recruitment. We noted that one small study had a large influence on the effect for hospital-acquired infections, and we assessed decisions made in analysis of some cluster-randomised cross-over studies on the effect for hospital-acquired infections and for mortality; we downgraded the evidence for these outcomes due to inconsistency. We also downgraded the evidence on length of stay in the ICU, because of imprecision. Data for adverse events were limited by few events and so we downgraded for imprecision.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Due to the very low-certainty evidence available, it is not clear whether bathing with chlorhexidine reduces hospital-acquired infections, mortality, or length of stay in the ICU, or whether the use of chlorhexidine results in more skin reactions.

Diabetic foot infections: Application of a nisin-biogel to complement the activity of conventional antibiotics and antiseptics against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a frequent complication of Diabetes mellitus and a major cause of nontraumatic limb amputations. The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, known for its resilient biofilms and antibiotic resistant profile, is the most frequent DFI pathogen. It is urgent to develop innovative treatments for these infections, being the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) nisin a potential candidate. We have previously proposed the use of a guar gum biogel as a delivery system for nisin. Here, we evaluated the potential of the nisin-biogel to enhance the efficacy of conventional antibiotics and antiseptics against DFIs S. aureus clinical isolates.

METHODS

A collection of 23 S. aureus strains isolated from DFI patients, including multidrug- and methicillin-resistant strains, was used. The antimicrobial activity of the nisin-biogel was tested alone and in different combinations with the antiseptic chlorhexidine and the antibiotics clindamycin, gentamicin and vancomycin. Isolates' in vitro susceptibility to the different protocols was assessed using broth microdilution methods in order to determine their ability to inhibit and/or eradicate established S. aureus biofilms. Antimicrobials were added to the 96-well plates every 8 h to simulate a typical DFI treatment protocol. Statistical analysis was conducted using RCBD ANOVA in SPSS.

RESULTS

The nisin-biogel showed a high antibacterial activity against biofilms formed by DFI S. aureus. The combined protocol using nisin-biogel and chlorhexidine presented the highest efficacy in biofilm formation inhibition, significantly higher (p<0.05) than the ones presented by the antibiotics-based protocols tested. Regarding biofilm eradication, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the activity of the combination nisin-biogel plus chlorhexidine and the conventional antibiotic-based protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Results provide a valuable contribution for the development of complementary strategies to conventional antibiotics protocols. A combined protocol including chlorhexidine and nisin-biogel could be potentially applied in medical centres, contributing for the reduction of antibiotic administration, selection pressure on DFI pathogens and resistance strains dissemination.

Best products for skin antisepsis

Application of antiseptic products to the skin plays an important role in prevention of a variety of health care-associated infections. Preoperative bathing or showering is widely recommended to reduce the risk of surgical site infections. Evidence of the impact of this measure on surgical site infection rates is mixed, and further prospective trials comparing standardized protocols for showering with plain soap or chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-containing soap, or bathing with 2% CHG-impregnated cloths are needed to establish the most effective approach. Current evidence favors the use of alcohol-containing solutions, often containing CHG or povidone-iodine, for surgical site preparation of the skin. Preparation of vaginal mucosa prior to gynecologic surgery may be performed using either povidone-iodine or CHG. Surgical hand antisepsis can be performed by scrubbing with an antimicrobial soap or by handrubbing using an alcohol-based handrub. Addition of CHG to alcohol-based handrubs intended for surgical hand antisepsis is not necessary if they meet recommended efficacy criteria. Daily CHG bathing of intensive care unit patients has been shown to reduce a variety of health care-associated infections, most commonly bloodstream infections (BSIs). Achieving and maintaining optimum application protocols may be challenging, suggesting the need for ongoing staff education, monitoring, and feedback. Additional studies are needed to determine the impact of daily CHG bathing of non-intensive care unit patients. Alcoholic CHG is currently the preferred antiseptic for skin preparation prior to insertion of central and arterial intravascular catheters. CHG-impregnated dressings have been shown to reduce catheter-associated BSI. Because of the widespread use of antiseptics, especially CHG, surveillance for emergence of increased tolerance or resistance is warranted. Antiseptics are applied to the skin for a variety of purposes in health care. Common scenarios in which topical antiseptics are used include preoperative bathing, surgical site preparation, surgical hand hygiene, daily bathing of intensive care unit patients, and prevention of intravascular catheter-associated BSI. The purpose of this article is to review recent evidence regarding the best products for skin antisepsis.

Targeting Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in a Trauma Population: A 5-S Bundle Preventive Approach

Complications from catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) can cause morbidity and mortality. Our institution's Trauma Quality and Improvement Program analysis identified CAUTIs as an outlier complication in our trauma population. This study aimed to determine whether implemented measures would reduce CAUTI rates in trauma population. A 5-S CAUTI bundle was implemented. Its effects were measured on a prospectively collected dataset of adult trauma patients using our Trauma Registry during the 4-year study period. Implemented measures included (1) staff education, (2) bladder catheter stabilization, (3) patient and caregiver education, (4) keeping the collection bag below the bladder and above the floor, and (5) daily evaluations for discontinuation. Chi-squared and t-test analyses were used with significance defined as p < .05. Twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty-two trauma patients were admitted to trauma service during the 4-year study period. Of these, 94 developed CAUTIs, with an average age of 67 years and 56% were females. The average injury severity score was 16 in patients with CAUTIs compared with 9 in non-CAUTI patients (p < .0002). In the index year, CAUTIs occurred in 41 out of 3,054 (1.34%), the following year there were 34 out of 3,455 (0.98%), in 2016 there were 11 out of 3,246 (0.33%), and 8 out of 3,207 (0.25%) in 2017 (p < .001). Results demonstrated an 80% reduction in CAUTI rate. Execution of the 5-S CAUTI bundle resulted in a significant 80% reduction in CAUTI rate in our trauma population.

Chlorhexidine-based body washing for colonization and infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus: an updated meta-analysis

Background

The effects of chlorhexidine-based body washing (CHW) on health care-associated infections have been reported in numerous studies, while their findings remain conflicting. This study aims to update the evidence for the effects of CHW on the risk of colonization or infection with hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).

Methods

Two independent authors searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception through February 2018. We selected all observational studies or clinical trials for the effect of CHW on the risk of colonization and infection with hospital-acquired MRSA or VRE. Random-effects models were applied to calculate summary incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the related associations.

Results

Of 140 records identified, we obtained data from 17 relevant articles for meta-analysis. Compared with patients without antiseptic bathing, patients with CHW had a significantly lower risk of MRSA colonization (IRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.48–0.77) and VRE colonization (IRR 0.58, 95% CI 0.42–0.80). Similarly, we also noted that patients with CHW had a significantly lower risk of MRSA infection (IRR 0.65, 95% CI 0.52–0.81). However, no significantly lower risk of VRE infection (IRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.30–1.25) was noted in patients with CHW. Sensitivity analyses or trim-and-fill method confirmed the robustness of the findings.

Conclusion

Current evidence supports that patients with CHW had a significantly lower risk of MRSA or VRE colonization and a lower risk of MRSA infection. More evidence should be accumulated to reinforce these findings, especially on the effect of CHW on the risk of VRE infection.

Practical methods for effective vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) surveillance: experience in a liver transplant surgical intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the utility of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) surveillance by varying 2 parameters: admission versus weekly surveillance and perirectal swabbing versus stool sampling.

DESIGN

Prospective, patient-level surveillance program of incident VRE colonization.

SETTING

Liver transplant surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of a tertiary-care referral medical center with a high prevalence of VRE.PatientsAll patients admitted to the SICU from June to August 2015.

METHODS

We conducted a point-prevalence estimate followed by admission and weekly surveillance by perirectal swabbing and/or stool sampling. Incident colonization was defined as a negative screen followed by positive surveillance. VRE was detected by culture on Remel Spectra VRE chromogenic agar. Microbiologically-confirmed VRE bloodstream infections (BSIs) were tracked for 2 months. Statistical analyses were calculated using the McNemar test, the Fisher exact test, the t test, and the χ2 test.

RESULTS

In total, 91 patients underwent VRE surveillance testing. The point prevalence of VRE colonization was 60.9%; VRE prevalence on admission was 30.1%. Weekly surveillance identified an additional 7 of 28 patients (25.0%) with incident colonization. VRE BSIs were more common in VRE-colonized patients than in noncolonized patients (8 of 43 vs 2 of 48; P=.028). In a direct comparison, perirectal swabs were more sensitive than stool samples in detecting VRE (64 of 67 vs 56 of 67; P=.023). Compliance with perirectal swabbing was 89% (201 of 226) compared to 56% (127 of 226) for stool collection (P≤0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend weekly VRE surveillance over admission-only screening in high-burden units such as liver transplant SICUs. Perirectal swabs had greater collection compliance and sensitivity than stool samples, making them the preferred methodology. Further work may have implications for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control.

Prevention and Control of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Adult Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

Background

This study evaluated the relative efficacy of strategies for the prevention of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) in adult intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods

A systematic review and network meta-analysis was performed; searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) included all randomized controlled trials and observational studies conducted in adult patients hospitalized in ICUs and evaluating standard care (STD), antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), environmental cleaning (ENV), decolonization methods (DCL), or source control (SCT), simultaneously. The primary outcomes were MDR-GNB acquisition, colonization, and infection; secondary outcome was ICU mortality.

Results

Of 3805 publications retrieved, 42 met inclusion criteria (5 randomized controlled trials and 37 observational studies), involving 62068 patients (median age, 58.8 years; median APACHE [Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation] II score, 18.9). The majority of studies reported extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. Compared with STD, a 4-component strategy composed of STD, ASP, ENV, and SCT was the most effective intervention (rate ratio [RR], 0.05 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .01-.38]). When ENV was added to STD+ASP or SCT was added to STD+ENV, there was a significant reduction in the acquisition of MDR A. baumannii (RR, 0.28 [95% CI, .18-.43] and 0.48 [95% CI, .35-.66], respectively). Strategies with ASP as a core component showed a statistically significant reduction the acquisition of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (RR, 0.28 [95% CI, .11-.69] for STD+ASP+ENV and 0.23 [95% CI, .07-.80] for STD+ASP+DCL).

Conclusions

A 4-component strategy was the most effective intervention to prevent MDR-GNB acquisition. As some strategies were differential for certain bacteria, our study highlighted the need for further evaluation of the most effective prevention strategies.

Impact of chlorhexidine bathing on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus incidence in an endemic chronic care setting: A randomized controlled trial

We postulated that bathing with 2% chlorhexidine-impregnated antiseptic washcloths could reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) incidence among chronic care patients compared with nonantiseptic bathing. A total of 122 patients on 3 hospital units were enrolled in a 12-month, cluster-randomized, open-label, controlled trial, with 8 patients becoming MRSA positive. The 2% chlorhexidine-impregnated antiseptic washcloths reduced incidence by 71% (0.1 vs 0.44 cases per 1,000 patient days) (P = .14; Fisher exact). The detected difference was not statistically significant because of a low number of observed events.