Postoperative infections traced to contamination of an intravenous anesthetic, propofol

Article Abstract:

Propofol and other lipid-based anesthetics which accomodate rapid bacteria growth may easily become contaminated and cause serious complications in surgical patients. Researchers reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who developed infections or acute fever following surgery during an infection outbreak at one of seven hospitals. Researchers compared these records to those of uninfected surgical patients and investigated surgical procedures and equipment. Infections were associated with the use of propofol, and at some hospitals, exposure to certain anesthesia personnel. Anesthesia personnel were often negligent of sterile technique: they reused containers and syringes, failed to wear gloves, and did not disinfect container stoppers. Strict sterile technique should be observed by anesthesia personnel to prevent infection.

Author: Jarvis, William R., Burwen, Dale R., Arduino, Matthew J., McNeil, Michael M., Pegues, David A., Bennett, Siiri N., Bland, Lee A., Villarino, M. Elsa, Perrotta, Dennis M., Welbel, Sharon F., Stroud, Leonardo, Zeitz, Paul S.
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1995
Infection, Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Surgery, Postoperative complications, Anesthesia

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Serratia liquefaciens bloodstream infections from contamination of epoetin alfa at a hemodialysis center

Article Abstract:

Dialysis centers should be careful not to use single-dose epoetin alfa vials for more than one patient. Epoetin alfa is given to dialysis patients to increase production of red blood cells. At one dialysis center, sharing single-dose units among several patients caused an outbreak of infection caused by a bacterium called Serratia liquefaciens.

Author: Jarvis, William R., Feikin, Daniel R., Hoffman, Richard E., Carson, Loretta A., Arduino, Matthew J., Grohskopf, Lisa A., Roth, Virginia R., Tokars, Jerome I., Holt, Stacey C., Jensen, Bette J.
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2001
Management, Causes of, Diseases, Bacterial infections, Contamination, Hemodialysis patients, Erythropoietin, Recombinant, Recombinant erythropoietin, Hemodialysis facilities, Dialysis facilities

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Control of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus in health care facilities in a region

Article Abstract:

An intensive program to decrease vancomycin-resistance among a group of bacteria called enterococci at 30 health care facilities in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota is described. The percentage of enterococci that were resistant to vancomycin decreased from 2% in 1997 at the start of the program to 0.5% in 1999.

Author: Kuehnert, Matthew J., Jarvis, William R., Ostrowsky, Belinda E., Trick, William E., Sohn, Annette H., Quirk, Stephen B., Holt, Stacey, Carson, Loretta A., Hill, Bertha C., Arduino, Matthew J.
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2001
Prevention, Drug resistance in microorganisms, Microbial drug resistance, Enterococcus

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