We describe a pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae infection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 9 patients that was traced to contamination of an automated bronchoscope washer. Molecular typing using repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction was helpful in confirming epidemiologic and clinical findings.

We performed a study with a 1:3 ratio of case patients (n = 11) to control patients (n = 33) to evaluate risk factors for postoperative endophthalmitis in a Thai tertiary care center. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus and surgeon A were associated risk factors. Preoperative diabetes mellitus control and the improvement of infection control practices led to the termination of the outbreak.

In the United States, from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2005, the incidence of candidemia-related hospitalization per 100,000 population rose by 52%, from 3.65 to 5.56 cases; and the incidence per 1,000 hospitalizations rose by 49%, from 0.28 to 0.42 cases. The proportion of all candidemia-related hospitalizations in which candidemia was the principal diagnosis remained stable at approximately 14%.

A fatal nosocomial infection with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 5 occurred in a patient with leukemia. Isolates recovered from both the potable water supply and the patient showed an identical genomic profile. With no other exposure identified, the water from the washbasin was evidently the source of infection.

We assessed the impact of free on-site influenza vaccination on childcare staff vaccination prevalence using 2 before-and-after studies. Vaccination was offered during the 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 influenza seasons. Staff vaccination prevalence was higher in each intervention season compared to the prior, nonintervention season. No baseline characteristics were associated with receipt of vaccination.

We performed an epidemiological investigation of a 62-bed neonatal intensive care unit in response to 2 infants with clinical cultures positive for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Surveillance cultures detected 11 infants colonized with VRE. Surveillance triggered by even a single clinical culture positive for VRE may be justified in the neonatal intensive care unit, because a single culture result may represent a large hidden reservoir of VRE-colonized infants.

We evaluated a double screening strategy for carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients exposed to a newly detected MRSA carrier. If the first screening of the exposed patient yielded negative results, screening was repeated 4 days later. This strategy detected 12 (28%) of the 43 new MRSA carriers identified during the study period. The results suggest that there is an incubation period before MRSA carriage is detectable.

A retrospective case-control and cohort analysis of hemodialysis patients was done to identify risk factors for spondylodiscitis. These risk factors included bacteremia, receipt of blood products, invasive procedures, and establishment of vascular access. The death rate was greater for case subjects than for control subjects (odds ratio, 2.7).

The use of declination statements was associated with a mean increase of 11.6% in influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers at 22 hospitals. In most hospitals, there were no negative consequences for healthcare workers who refused to sign the forms, and most policies were implemented along with other interventions designed to increase vaccination rates.

The prevalence of markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the rate of compliance with HBV vaccination laws were investigated in a study at Padua University Medical School (Italy). Of 2,361 students, 385 (16.3%) tested negative for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. When vaccination was actively offered to these students, there was a low rate of compliance (47.0% [181 students]) but a good rate of seroconversion (93.1% [95 of 102 students]). Screening for HBV markers appears to be crucial to efforts to increase rates of vaccination coverage.

We evaluated a catheter-lock solution consisting of N-acetylcysteine, tigecycline, and heparin for catheter salvage in patients with hemodialysis catheter-associated bacteremia. Eighteen case patients received the catheter-lock solution for 14 days plus systemic antibiotic therapy. Treatment was successful for 15 (83%) of the 18 case patients within 90 days of follow-up, with a median catheter retention interval of 64.5 days.

Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00614679.

In teaching hospitals, the majority of central venous catheters are placed by medical residents. No studies have examined residents' adherence to safe practices during these procedures. We conducted a survey to gather self-reported data on the techniques that internal medicine residents use when placing a central venous catheter to minimize their own risk of infection and their patients' risk of bleeding-related complications.

Causes and circumstances related to 162 needlestick injuries in nursing homes were analyzed. In addition to nurses, geriatrics helpers were found to be an important occupational group at risk. Insulin pens were the most frequent cause of needlestick injuries among nursing personnel. Insulin pens are a major instrument involved with unsafe needle-handling practices.

We identified 3 outbreaks of influenza A (attack rates, 18%–24%) among Thai healthcare workers in intensive care units. All outbreaks were epidemiologically linked to an index patient with pneumonia due to influenza A virus (subtype H3N2). The investigations of these outbreaks incurred costs that exceeded the estimated costs of healthcare worker influenza vaccination by more than 10-fold.