Sterile Gown Research Articles

Unveiling the dynamics of intraoperative contamination in total hip arthroplasty: the discrepancy between particulate and microbial contamination in surgical site infection risk

BackgroundSurgical site infection (SSI) is a major problem following total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study investigated the impact of a standard intraoperative routine where the surgical team wears full-body exhaust suits (space suits) within a laminar airflow (LAF)-ventilated operating room (OR) on environmental contamination. Our primary objective was to identify potential modifiable intraoperative factors that could be better controlled to minimize SSI risk.MethodsWe implemented an approach involving simultaneous and continuous air sampling throughout actual primary cementless THA procedures. This method concurrently monitored both airborne particle and microbial contamination levels from the time the patient entered the OR for surgery until extubation.ResultsAirborne particulate and microbial contamination significantly increased during the first and second patient repositionings (postural changes) when the surgical team was not wearing space suits. However, their concentration exhibited inconsistent changes during the core surgical procedures, between incision and suturing, when the surgeons wore space suits. The microbial biosensor detected zero median microbes from draping to suturing. In contrast, the particle counter indicated a significant level of airborne particles during head resection and cup press-fitting, suggesting these procedures might generate more non-viable particles.ConclusionsThis study identified a significant portion of airborne particles during the core surgical procedures as non-viable, suggesting that monitoring solely for particle counts might not suffice to estimate SSI risk. Our findings strongly support the use of space suits for surgeons to minimize intraoperative microbial contamination within LAF-ventilated ORs. Therefore, minimizing unnecessary traffic and movement of unsterile personnel is crucial. Additionally, since our data suggest increased contamination during patient repositioning, effectively controlling contamination during the first postural change plays a key role in maintaining low microbial contamination levels throughout the surgery. The use of sterile gowns during this initial maneuver might further reduce SSIs. Further research is warranted to investigate the impact of sterile attire on SSIs.

Short-Cycle Autoclave Sterilization of Instruments in Same-Day Ophthalmic Surgeries

What Is the Issue? The volume of ophthalmic surgeries is increasingly high, with cataract surgery being 1 of the most performed surgeries in Canada. Infections following ophthalmic surgeries, while rare, can cause severe complications that may lead to irreversible vision loss. Reducing postsurgery infections is a high priority in clinical practice. Running a full wrapped, terminal steam sterilization cycle for ophthalmic instruments in autoclaves may be inefficient for ophthalmic surgeries and may cause unnecessary heavy economic and environmental burdens due to high surgical volumes. Using instruments sterilized on a short cycle between sequential same-day ophthalmic surgeries may help improve efficiency and reduce resources used. These instruments are generally processed using autoclaves (i.e., steam sterilizers); the effectiveness of a shorter-cycle method of sterilization is unclear. What Did We Do? To inform decisions regarding the use of autoclaves for short-cycle sterilization for sequential same-day instrument use in ophthalmic surgery, we sought to identify and summarize evidence comparing this method to full-cycle sterilization of wrapped instruments and identify any relevant recommendations. We searched key resources, including journal citation databases, and conducted a focused internet search for relevant evidence published since 2012. One reviewer screened articles for inclusion based on predefined criteria. What Did We Find? In a laboratory setting to simulate sequential same-day procedures, short-cycle sterilization with interrupted dry time for unwrapped ophthalmic instruments is feasibly as effective as full-cycle sterilization for wrapped instruments using the STATIM autoclave. Similarly, short-cycle sterilization with interrupted dry time for contained ophthalmic instruments is feasibly as effective as full-cycle sterilization for contained instruments using the AMSCO autoclave. For sequential same-day ophthalmic procedures, wet instruments sterilized by a short-cycle process with an interrupted dry time can remain sterile for at least 3 minutes if kept in a covered sterilizer containment device. One guideline recommends that wrapped or unwrapped ophthalmic instruments sterilized by a short-cycle process without full drying should be stored in a covered containment device until retrieved by staff wearing sterile gloves and gowns in the operating room for the subsequent surgery after a short delay. Phaco handpieces should be immediately primed with a balanced salt solution and remain wet as they sit on the sterile instrument table. We did not identify any clinical setting evidence from studies or autoclave manufacturers. It is unclear if clinical outcomes differ between patients undergoing sequential same-day ophthalmic surgeries using short-cycle sterilized instruments and those undergoing surgery using full-cycle sterilized instruments. What Does This Mean? Preliminary laboratory evidence and guideline recommendations supporting the use of autoclaves for short-cycle sterilization of instruments for sequential same-day ophthalmic surgeries are available. However, there is no clinical effectiveness evidence available on this process in patient settings. Future research is necessary to understand the clinical safety of using instruments sterilized by short cycles for sequential same-day use for patients undergoing ophthalmic surgeries. In addition to the evidence and recommendations identified, other factors, such as environmental influence, may be useful considerations when making decisions about short-cycle sterilization for sequential same-day instrument use for ophthalmic surgery.

Sterile gown and drape, and bouffant cap for thyroid FNA: preventing infections or producing unnecessary medical waste?

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a very low-risk procedure. Despite this, there remains great variability in the use of protective equipment. Given the monetary and environmental costs of protective equipment, the difference in infection rates with full versus limited protective equipment was assessed. A total of 857 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed after undergoing thyroid FNAs at the main hospital and outpatient clinic siteperformed from 12/1/2020 to 11/30/2023. The hospital site operated with full protective equipment (bouffant, sterile gown, sterile gloves, and full body sterile drape), and the outpatient site with limited (sterile gloves, limited sterile paper drape) protective equipment. Two patients were excluded as no procedure was performed. Review for signs of infection within 30days of procedure was performed using medical records, which was blinded to the extent of protective equipment utilization. No infections were identified in either group, with 0/629 (0%, 95%CI 0-1%) in the full protective equipment group vs. 0/226 (0%, 95%CI 0-2%) in the limited protective equipment group. There was no statistically significant difference in infection rate between full and limited protective equipment use in thyroid FNA in the included 855 procedures (95%CI 0-1%). Two patients out of 629 (0.3%) in the full protective equipment group developed mild allergic reaction to topical antiseptic. The 226 procedures with limited protective equipment represent a saving of at least 204,530g of CO2 equivalents, equivalent to driving a car for almost 3000 miles. Reducing the extent of protective equipment does not adversely affect the infection rate in thyroid FNAs. Given the inherent costs involved in the procurement and waste of protective equipment, reducing protective equipment use is warranted to reduce both the monetary and environmental impacts of waste.

Environmental Impact of a Direct Laryngoscopy: Opportunities for Pollution Mitigation.

To quantify the environmental impact of standard direct laryngoscopy surgery and model the environmental benefit of three feasible alternative scenarios that meet safe decontamination reprocessing requirements. This is a life cycle assessment (LCA) modeling study. Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH), a 1541-bed tertiary medical center in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. We performed cradle-to-grave LCA of DLS at Yale New Haven Hospital in 2022, including global warming potential (GWP), water consumption, and fine particulate matter formation. Three alternative scenarios were modeled: disinfecting surgical tools using high-level disinfection rather than steam sterilization, substituting non-sterile for sterile gloves and gowns; and reducing surgical towel and drape sizes by 30%. Changes in disinfection practices would decrease procedure GWP by 11% in each environmental impact category. Substituting non-sterile gowns and gloves reduced GWP by 15%, with nominal changes to water consumption. Linen size reduction resulted in 28% less procedure-related water consumption. Together, a nearly 30% reduction across all environmental impact categories could be achieved. Not exceeding minimum Center for Disease Control (CDC) decontamination standards for reusable devices and optimizing non-sterile consumable materials could dramatically reduce healthcare-associated emissions without compromising safety, thereby minimizing the negative consequences of hospital operations to environmental and human health. Findings extend to other non-sterile surgical procedures. NA Laryngoscope, 134:3206-3214, 2024.

User experience of wearing comfort of reusable versus disposable surgical gowns and environmental perspectives: A cross-sectional survey.

To determine the user experience of wearing comfort of reusable sterile surgical gowns and compare these gowns with conventional disposable surgical gowns. Cross-sectional survey. An academic hospital in the Netherlands. Gynaecologists, surgeons, residents and operating room assistants (n=80). Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained via a written questionnaire. Participants provided subjective comments and scored the reusable gown on each individual topic with a score from 1 to 5 (1 = unsatisfactory, 2 = moderate, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent) and compared the reusable gown with the conventional disposable alternative (better, equal or worse). Wearing comfort: ventilation and temperature regulation, fit and length, functionality, barrier function and ease of use. The results of the overall scores of the reusable gown are scored as 'very good' (mean 4.3, SD ± 0.5) by its users. Regarding comparison of the gowns, more than 79% (lowest score 79%, highest score 95%) of the participants scored the reusable gown equal or higher on six of seven topics. The topic 'ease of use' was scored equal or higher by 59% of the participants. Subjective comments provided information on possible improvements. The findings of this study demonstrate that there is professional acceptance regarding the utilisation of reusable surgical gowns. To facilitate broader adoption, it is imperative to foster collaboration among suppliers and healthcare institutions. The reusable surgical gown is an environmentally sustainable, safe and comfortable alternative in the operating room.

CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infection)

The microorganism uses the person’s body to sustain itself, reproduce, and colonize. These infectious microscopic organisms are known as pathogens, and they can multiply quickly. A CLABSI is a serious infection that occurs in the blood stream due to catheter use. Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) are a major cause of healthcare -associated morbidity and mortality. This type of infection is serious, but often can be successfully treated with antibiotics. CLABSI can be prevented by choosing a vein where the catheter can be safely inserted and where the risk for infection is small, proper hand washing, use of protective equipment like gloves and a sterile gown and careful cleaning of the area around the catheter. Every day, healthcare providers should assess whether the patient needs to have the catheter, and remove it as soon as it is no longer needed.

Personal protective equipment used by obstetricians and obstetric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mansoura, Egypt.

Background: This study was done to describe the pattern of personal protective equipment (PPE) use, associated factors, and adverse events among obstetricians and obstetric nurses in obstetrics & gynecology departments. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Obstetrics & Gynecology departments in three hospitals (physician & nurses n=252) using an online Google form including demographic and occupational health data, type of available personal protective equipment during usual care, CS and emergency labor, infection control measures and hazards of full PPE use. Results Full PPE use was 37.7% during CS and 34.9% during emergency labor. The significant predictors of wearing full PPE during CS were daily work hours > 8 hours and receiving formal training about PPE use. During CS & emergency labor most of HCws used sterile gloves and sterile fluid resistant gowns and surgical mask.to less extent used face shields or tight fitting googles and one tenth (11.8%) only used N95. The most common health effects of full PPE use was sense of heat (79.5%) .Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic more vigorous respiratory (N95 mask) and eye protection is required during aerosol-generating procedures. Formal training is an evident predictor for full PPE use.

Personal protective equipment used by obstetricians and obstetric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mansoura, Egypt

Background: This study was done to describe the pattern of personal protective equipment (PPE) use, associated factors, and adverse events among obstetricians and obstetric nurses in obstetrics & gynecology departments. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Obstetrics & Gynecology departments in three hospitals (physician & nurses n=252) using an online Google form including demographic and occupational health data, type of available personal protective equipment during usual care, CS and emergency labor, infection control measures and hazards of full PPE use. Results Full PPE use was 37.7% during CS and 34.9% during emergency labor. The significant predictors of wearing full PPE during CS were daily work hours > 8 hours and receiving formal training about PPE use. During CS & emergency labor most of HCws used sterile gloves and sterile fluid resistant gowns and surgical mask.to less extent used face shields or tight fitting googles and one tenth (11.8%) only used N95. The most common health effects of full PPE use was sense of heat (79.5%) . Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic more vigorous respiratory (N95 mask) and eye protection is required during aerosol-generating procedures. Formal training is an evident predictor for full PPE use.

Personal protective equipment used by obstetricians and obstetric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mansoura, Egypt

Background: This study was done to describe the pattern of personal protective equipment (PPE) use, associated factors, and adverse events among obstetricians and obstetric nurses in obstetrics & gynecology departments. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Obstetrics & Gynecology departments in three hospitals (physician & nurses n=252) using an online Google form including demographic and occupational health data, type of available personal protective equipment during usual care, CS and emergency labor, infection control measures and hazards of full PPE use. Results Full PPE use was 37.7% during CS and 34.9% during emergency labor. The significant predictors of wearing full PPE during CS were daily work hours > 8 hours and receiving formal training about PPE use. During CS & emergency labor most of HCws used sterile gloves and sterile fluid resistant gowns and surgical mask.to less extent used face shields or tight fitting googles and one tenth (11.8%) only used N95. The most common health effects of full PPE use was sense of heat (79.5%) . Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic more vigorous respiratory (N95 mask) and eye protection is required during aerosol-generating procedures. Formal training is an evident predictor for full PPE use.

The study protocol: COVID-19 awareness and perception among dentists in the Russian Federation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide since it has been first identified in November 2018. It is transmissible via air droplets from infected individuals. Close contact between dentists and patients has aggravated the pandemic situation in Russia. It is necessary to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 during dental appointments by adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Questionnaires were developed to assess levels of COVID-19 infection and preventive measures in private and state-funded dental practices in Moscow and other cities in Russia. Two questionnaires were developed to assess the COVID-19 situation among dental professionals and their patients. The first, for dentists, included four domains: demographic data, signs, and symptoms of COVID-19 experienced by dentists, personal protective measures taken by dentists, and presence or absence of dental practice during the pandemic. For dentists' patients, the second included domains regarding their health status after their dental appointment. 1,500 questionnaires were sent to different cities and regions of Russia; 1,011 questionnaires (67.4%) were returned. We used statistical observation (monitoring) and clustering to analyze the data. The x2 was used to check the significance level. We found a direct relationship between those patients who contracted COVID-19 after dental treatment by those dentists who did not follow recommended measures in the dental clinic. However, patients were less likely to become infected after dental treatment by those dentists who followed the measures, such as the disinfection of surfaces and dental equipment several times a day, the wearing of medical masks by all patients, and the airing of the dental office after each patient for 10 minutes. Dentists wearing an FFP2 or FFP3 respirator, as well as a sterile disposable microfiber medical gown, prevented their patients from becoming infected with COVID-19 at dental appointments and, as a result, the spread of the virus. A key aspect of this study is its knowledge regarding preventive measures against COVID-19. The findings of this study can potentially help in formulating strategies to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19.

Variability in personal protective equipment in cross-sectional interventional abdominal radiology practices.

PurposeTo determine institutional practice requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) in cross-sectional interventional radiology (CSIR) procedures among a variety of radiology practices in the USA and Canada.MethodsMembers of the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) CSIR Emerging Technology Commission (ETC) were sent an eight-question survey about what PPE they were required to use during common CSIR procedures: paracentesis, thoracentesis, thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA), superficial lymph node biopsy, deep lymph node biopsy, solid organ biopsy, and ablation. Types of PPE evaluated were sterile gloves, surgical masks, gowns, surgical hats, eye shields, foot covers, and scrubs.Results26/38 surveys were completed by respondents at 20/22 (91%) institutions. The most common PPE was sterile gloves, required by 20/20 (100%) institutions for every procedure. The second most common PPE was masks, required by 14/20 (70%) institutions for superficial and deep procedures and 12/12 (100%) institutions for ablation. Scrubs, sterile gowns, eye shields, and surgical hats were required at nearly all institutions for ablation, whereas approximately half of institutions required their use for deep lymph node and solid organ biopsy. Compared with other types of PPE, required mask and eye shield use showed the greatest increase during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.ConclusionPPE use during common cross-sectional procedures is widely variable. Given the environmental and financial impact and lack of consensus practice, further studies examining the appropriate level of PPE are needed.Graphical abstract

Clinical Issues-January 2022.

Cleaning the central core floor Key words: semirestricted area, cleaning practices, vacuum, flooring, mopping. Wearing a cooling vest under a sterile gown Key words: thermal comfort, thermal stress, cooling vest, scrubbed personnel, surgical attire. Fluorescence-guided surgery Key words: fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS), fluorescent agent, fluorophore, imaging, indocyanine green (ICG). Containment of used suture needles Key words: sharps injury, sharps containment device, suture packet, suture needle, needle return.

The (Re)Tired Geriatrician

The (Re)Tired Geriatrician

ECMO Support and Operator Safety in the Context of COVID-19 Outbreak: A Regional Center Experience.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency, the referral Intensive Care Unit for the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support of Piedmont Region (Italy), in cooperation with infectious disease specialists, perfusionists and cardiac surgeons, developed a protocol to guarantee operator safety during invasive procedures, among which the ECMO positioning or inter-hospital transport. The use of powered air-purifying respirators, filtering facepiece particles (FFP) 2–3 masks, protective suits, disposable sterile surgical gowns, and two pairs of sterile gloves as a part of a protocol seemed effective and feasible for trained healthcare workers and allow all the complex activities connected with the positioning of the ECMO support to be completed effectively. The simulation training on donning and doffing procedures and the presence of a dedicated team member to verify the compliance with the safety procedure effectively reassured operators and likely reduced the risk of self-contamination. From 1 March to 31 December 2020, we used the procedure in 35 severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients and one acute respiratory failure caused by neoplastic total tracheal obstruction, all positive to COVID-19, to be connected to veno-venous ECMO in peripheral hospitals and centralized for ECMO management. This preliminary experience seems to confirm that the use of ECMO during COVID-19 outbreaks is feasible and the risks associated with its positioning and management are sustainable for the health-care workers and safe for patients.

The Current Practice of Spinal Anesthesia in Anesthetists at a Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: A Single Center Observational Study.

BackgroundSpinal anesthesia block is the most widely practiced anesthesia technique due to its safety margin. It is an invasive procedure that could be associated with a variety of complications like total spinal, cardiovascular collapse, meningitis, paralysis, and even death. The aim of this study to assess the current practice of spinal anesthesia.MethodsA Cross-sectional study design was conducted in Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from November 01 to December 15, 2020. All anesthesia professionals who are working in the study Hospital were surveyed by the Purposive sampling technique. A standardized structured checklist prepared from recommendations of New York school of regional anesthesia guideline regarding the current Practice of spinal anesthesia was used to collect the data after taking written informed consent. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the results.ResultsA total of 24 anesthetists were observed of their practice before, during, and after administer of spinal anesthesia. All of the anesthetists were practicing the preparation and assembling of all necessary anesthesia equipments, resuscitation drugs, and basic monitors while all of the anesthetists did not wash their hands, wore a sterile gown, and draped the back of the patient with fenestrated drapes in a sterile fashion.ConclusionMost of the anesthesiology professionals in our setting have a good preparation of all necessary anesthesia equipments, and resuscitation drugs, while the assessment of patient’s emotional reaction and pain during injection, the skin preparation allowed to being dry and assessment of the degree of sensory and motor block of the patient were insufficient.

PREDICTION OF DISEASE BURDEN AND HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION THROUGH SIMPLE PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS USING MATHEMATICAL APPROACHES, AN EXPERIENCE FROM UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA MEDICAL CENTRE

The sudden surge in the number of healthcare utilizations compels the hospital to plan for its future needs. Several time-series projections of Covid-19 were conducted to forecast the disease burden and resources utilization through simple predictive analytics. The projections revealed a rapid increase in the number of cases and patient in care at the hospital. It was estimated that the number of patients in care to range from 62 to 81 and 89 to 121 patients daily in the second and third phase of movement control order respectively. It was estimated that more than 100,000 plastic aprons, 80,000 sterile and non-sterile isolation gowns, 40,000 masks N95 and face shields, 30,000 gloves and nearly 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizers are needed until late May. Hence, a simple mathematical algorithm is a helpful tool to manage hospital resources during the pandemic.

A Comprehensive Comparison Between the Semi-sterile and Sterile Technique for Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures.

Background: Supracondylar humerus fracture is the most common elbow fracture in children, which often requires closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) procedure for full recovery. In addition to the traditional sterile technique with full prep and draping, the semi-sterile technique without sterile gowns and drapes has been suggested to be a viable alternative for CRPP.Methods: Here, we performed a retrospective study over a 3-year period to comprehensively evaluate the outcomes of the semi-sterile and the sterile techniques for CRPP in supracondylar humerus fractured patients. Demographic data, fracture type, nerve injury status and the type of preparation technique (semi-sterile vs. sterile) were recorded. Time of preparation and operation, costs and elbow recovery status were compared. Outcomes of the two techniques were compared with bivariate analysis.Results: In a total of 137 patients, we found that the semi-sterile technique could significantly reduce the total operation room usage time (80 ± 13 min vs. 94 ± 12 min, 15% reduction, P < 0.001) and costs of CRPP. Specifically, anesthesia and medical waste costs were reduced by 139 RMB (1,736 ± 128 vs. 1,875 ± 197, 7.4% reduction, P < 0.001) and 103.0 RMB (14.6 vs. 117.9) per operation, respectively. At the meantime, the infection rate and recovery efficiency (89 ± 10 vs. 91 ± 9 of the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, P = 0.352) were almost unchanged as compared to the sterile technique group.Conclusions: Our study suggests that the semi-sterile technique can be used as a cost-effective alternative for CRPP in supracondylar humerus fracture and even other bone-related non-surgical approaches.Level of Evidence: The present study is a retrospective cohort study with a level III of evidence.

Bacterial contamination of protective lead garments in an operating room setting.

Protective lead garments (PLG) worn in the operating room are a potential source for bacterial colonisation and thus may increase the risk of intraoperative infection. The clinical significance of such bacterial contamination has yet been established. Although disinfection protocols have been employed, their effectiveness is also unknown. We sought to describe and compare the bacterial profile of PLGs with a focus on common pathogens involved in surgical site infections (SSI) and prosthetic joint infections (PJI). We studied body aprons and neck-thyroid protective shields. We sampled 20 body aprons and 21 neck PLGs, swabbing the inside and outside of the PLGs. Swabs were cultured on different media and the results were assessed and compared. Of PLGs, 87.8% were contaminated. The neck-thyroid shield PLGs was generally more contaminated than body apron PLGs and exhibited significantly higher loads of Staphylococcus epidermidis (P = 0.048). Other pathogen cultured were Micrococcus spp., Acinetobacter lwoffii (A. lwoffii), Bacillus species (Bacillus spp.), Moraxella osloensis (M. osloensis) and Pseudomonas stutzeri (P. stutzeri). No other common pathogens associated with SSI or PJI were detected. PLGs are heavily contaminated despite regular cleaning protocols. Neck PLGs are highly contaminated with potentially infectious agents. As neck PLGs are often directly exposed above the surgical sterile gown and the surgical field, measures should be undertaken to reduce their exposure and bacterial load, perhaps by suggesting users consider avoiding the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy when possible or alternatively supporting the use of body exhaust suits when PLGs are needed.

Lessons Learned: Mitigating the Challenges of Urgently Threatening Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens in a Large Academic Medical Center

<h3>Background</h3> Care of urgently threatening antibiotic resistant pathogens such as Vancomycin Intermediate/Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA) and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) poses unique challenged in managing care of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Care of the patient, care of the environment, and compliance of infection control policies are priorities to uphold safety of the patient and the healthcare worker. <h3>Methods</h3> The Infection Prevention Program was notified from the laboratory of VISA positive and CRE positive patients residing in the hospital's Medical-Respiratory ICU. Patient's cases were individually reviewed for culture results, comorbidity, presence of invasive devices, laboratory values, and intact skin. Epidemiologic risk assessment was completed and the VISA/VRSA Policy was initiated in both instances. The policy includes recommendations consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) Management Guidelines." (CDC, 2015). Several escalated interventions were determined to be prudent as a result of the epidemiologic risk assessment: addition of a 24-hour door monitor outside the patients' rooms, wearing sterile gown and trauma boots during wound care for the CRE-positive patient, and restriction of movement within the facility. <h3>Results</h3> Initial activation of the VISA/VRSA Policy was met with resistance from bedside staff secondary to staffing constraints, fear of transmission, confusion of risk involved, and misunderstanding of patient movement restriction. Resistance was lessened through timely intervention from Infection Preventionists, who formulated action plan as follows: consult help from hospital administration and allocate additional staff from the supplemental department, create and disperse education video on contact precautions, and develop schematics to guide actions when patient must leave floor for diagnostic exams. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Safe management of patients with high-risk MDRO's requires collaboration between Epidemiology, nursing, physicians, laboratory, environmental services, bed management, radiology, supplemental staffing and hospital leadership.

Recommendations on Hygiene in Regional Anaesthesia

The true incidence of infectious complications related to regional anaesthesia and analgesia is not known but like any invasive procedure is has the potential for severe sequelae. This article gives an overview on hygiene requirements based on the S1-guideline "Hygiene recommendations on regional anaesthesia", current recommendations of the Robert Koch-Institute and current scientific insights. Basic hygienic standards (removal of jewellery, accurate hand disinfection, clean environment) are to be applied. A face mask to cover nose and mouth, a surgical hair cap and sterile gloves are essential parts of any block. For catheter placements a sterile gown with long arms is recommended and also a sterile cover for the ultrasound probe (including the cable when catheters are placed). Skin disinfectant should be alcohol-based and contain a remanent ingredient (chlorhexidine or octenidine). Catheter tunneling may be protective when thoracic epidural catheters are used. When patient related factors (diabetes, obesity, immune suppression) and procedural factors (intended catheter use > 4 days, catheter site) are carefully weighed, an antibiotic prophylaxis may be taken into consideration.