To study the epidemiology and preventability of blood contact with skin and mucous membranes during surgical procedures.

Observers present at 1,382 surgical procedures recorded information about the procedure, the personnel present, and the contacts that occurred.

Four US teaching hospitals during 1990.

Operating room personnel in five surgical specialties.

Numbers and circumstances of contact between the patient's blood (or other infective fluids) and surgical personnel's mucous membranes (mucous membrane contacts) or skin (skin contacts, excluding percutaneous injuries).

A total of 1,069 skin (including 620 hand, 258 body, and 172 face) and 32 mucous membrane (all affecting eyes) contacts were observed. Surgeons sustained most contacts (19% had ≥1 skin contact and 0.5% had ≥1 mucous membrane-eye contact). Hand contacts were 72% lower among surgeons who double gloved, and face contacts were prevented reliably by face shields. Mucous membrane-eye contacts were significantly less frequent in surgeons wearing eyeglasses and were absent in surgeons wearing goggles or face shields. Among surgeons, risk factors for skin contact depended on the area of contact: hand contacts were associated most closely with procedure duration (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 9.4; ≥4 versus <1 hour); body contacts (arms, legs, and torso) with estimated blood losses (adjusted OR, 8.4; ≥1,000 versus <100 mL); and face contacts, with orthopedic service (adjusted OR, 7.5 compared with general surgery).

Skin and mucous membrane contacts are preventable by appropriate barrier precautions, yet occur commonly during surgery. Surgeons who perform procedures similar to those included in this study should strongly consider double gloving, changing gloves routinely during surgery, or both.

To investigate the cause of an outbreak of needlestick injuries (NSIs) in hospital employees.

A 700-bed university hospital.

Outbreak investigation, laboratory evaluation of a medical waste disposal device, cost analysis.

Employee health department records were reviewed of workers suffering sticks from needles piercing fiberboard-contaminated material containers (CMCs). A laboratory evaluation of needle-puncture resistance properties of the CMCs was performed using a testing apparatus. The cost of a hospital waste disposal program using fiberboard CMCs was compared with the cost of a program using rigid plastic (polypropylene) boxes.

During 40 months of surveillance in 1986 and from 1989 to 1991, only one NSI had occurred from a needle piercing a CMC. During 9 months in 1993, 13 NSIs occurred due to needles piercing CMCs (P<.001). No clinical illness resulted from the NSIs. The outbreak was halted by a temporary change to plastic (polypropylene) boxes for sharps disposal ($4.92 to $23.33/cu ft) until receipt of a box with a newly designed solid fiberboard liner ($1.25/cu ft). CMC liners used during the epidemic had a mean needle puncture resistance of 527 g, as compared with 660 g for liners used before the outbreak (P<.001). The new solid fiberboard liner has a mean puncture resistance of 1,765 g. A program of waste disposal using fiberboard CMCs was found to cost approximately one-seventh the cost of a program using plastic boxes for disposal of infectious waste.

A program for infectious waste disposal using fiberboard CMCs can be safe and cost-effective if appropriate standards for puncture resistance are met.

To describe the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a university hospital during a 14-month period.

Prospective laboratory-based surveillance for MRSA with descriptive epidemiology based on medical chart review and characterization of strains by DNA typing, using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

An 850-bed tertiary care university hospital.

Patients with clinical isolates of MRSA.

Determination whether MRSA isolates were community- or hospital-related.

Among 87 patients with MRSA, 36 (41%) had community-acquired infections. Community acquisition was associated with recent hospitalization, previous antibiotic therapy, nursing home residence, and intravenous drug use. Greater than 3 months had elapsed from the time of discharge for 13 (62%) of the 21 patients with community-acquired isolates hospitalized within the last year. Eight patients (22%) with community-acquired MRSA had no discernible risk factors. PFGE allowed differentiation of 35 distinct whole-cell DNA patterns; heterogeneity was seen among both nosocomial and community-acquired isolates, with few instances of cross-transmission.

Our data suggest an increase in community acquisition of MRSA. PFGE demonstrated heterogeneity of MRSA isolates from both the community and the hospital setting.

To evaluate nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB).

Outbreak investigation: review of infection control practices and skin test results of healthcare workers (HCWs); medical records of hospitalized TB patients and mycobacteriology reports; submission of specimens for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing; and an assessment of the air-handling system.

A teaching hospital in upstate New York.

Skin-test conversions occurred among 46 (6.6%) of 696 HCWs tested from August through October 1991. Rates were highest on two units (29% and 20%); HCWs primarily assigned to these units had a higher risk for conversion compared with HCWs tested following previous incidents of exposure to TB (relative risk [RR] = 53.4, 95% confidence interval [CI95] =6.9 to 411.1; and RR=37.4, CI95= 5.0 to 277.3, respectively). The likely source patient was the only TB patient hospitalized on both units during the probable exposure period. This patient appeared clinically infectious, was associated with a higher risk of conversion among HCWs providing direct care (RR = 2.37; CI95 = 1.05 to 5.34), and was a prison inmate with TB resistant to seven antituberculosis agents. The MDR-TB strain isolated from this patient also was isolated from other inmate and noninmate patients, and a prison correctional officer exposed in the hospital. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from all of these patients had matching RFLP patterns. Infection control practices closely followed established guidelines; however, several rooms housing TB patients had marginal negative pressure with variable numbers of air changes per hour, and directional airflow was disrupted easily.

These data strongly suggest nosocomial transmission of MDR-TB to HCWs, patients, and a prison correctional officer working in the hospital. Factors contributing to transmission apparently included prolonged infectiousness of the likely source patient and inadequate environmental controls. Continued urgent attention to TB infection control is needed.

To describe two cases of nosocomial legionellosis and discuss the epidemiology of this infection.

Potable water was collected from multiple sites. Patient and environmental isolates were characterized by the Legionella slide agglutination test and monoclonal antibody subtyping. Concordance among isolates was confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

A 713-bed university-affiliated hospital.

There was widespread contamination of potable water with Legionella pneumophila during a period of major construction; cooling towers were without growth of Legionella. One patient's isolate was the same by PFGE as the environmental isolate collected from the water faucet in his room. Control measures included superheating water used in all patient care areas to 75°C for 72 hours and flushing superheated water through faucets and showers; cleaning shower heads with a sonicator washer; and raising the hot water storage tank temperature from 43°C to 52°C. After these interventions, repeat environmental cultures over the next 6 months were without growth of Legionella, and no further cases of nosocomial legionnaires' disease were documented. An association between legionnaires' disease and construction is postulated. Heightened surveillance and preventive measures may be warranted during periods of excavation on hospital grounds or when potable water supplies are otherwise shut down and later repressurized.

To study the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) over a prolonged period of time with the aid of a molecular typing method (ribotyping).

A 1,000-bed tertiary university medical center.

Defined epidemiological data were recorded for all patients culture-positive for MRSA between 1989 and 1992. Ribotyping of MRSA strains was performed using three restriction enzymes: EcoRv, HindHI, and KpnI.

From 1989 to 1992, MRSA was isolated from clinical specimens in 98 patients and from surveillance cultures in 27 patients. Among the 122 isolates available for typing, 26 different ribotypes were identified. In 20% of the cases, MRSA was community-acquired, and a third of these patients never had been hospitalized previously. Nine ribotypes were responsible for more than one case (2 to 64 patients); 17 appeared only once. Epidemiological data correlated with ribotyping results revealed 14 epidemiologic clusters involving six different ribotypes, whereas only three outbreaks were suspected initially. The median follow-up after the last isolation of a given ribotype was 14 months (range, 1 to 42) for clusters and 25 months (range, 1 to 46) for ribotypes that appeared only once. During clusters, only 16% of the cases occurred after the implementation of control measures in the ward (breakthrough cases).

The high diversity of MRSA strains observed over 4 years suggested that new strains were introduced continuously in our hospital. Furthermore, that 17 ribotypes were isolated only once, that breakthrough cases represented only 16% of the cases in clusters, and that the follow-up duration after the last isolation of a given ribotype was more than 14 months suggest that infection control measures were effective in limiting the nosocomial spread of MRSA over a prolonged period of time.

1) To compare policies and procedures for distribution of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines to long-term care facilities for the elderly in Canada, 2) to determine vaccination rates of residents and staff, and 3) to describe vaccination and tuberculin skin testing programs in these facilities.

A cross-sectional survey consisting of telephone interviews and a mailed questionnaire was conducted in the spring of 1991. Telephone interviews were conducted with provincial/territorial epidemiologists. The questionnaire was sent to all (N = 1,520) Canadian long-term care facilities for the elderly with ≥ 25 beds.

There were 1,270 responding facilities (84%). The mean overall influenza vaccination rate for residents was 78.5%. The mean vaccination rate was higher in those provinces in which the vaccine was paid for by the government (79% versus 71%; P= 0.002). Only 19% of facilities reported staff vaccination rates >25%; rates again were higher in those provinces in which vaccine for staff was provided by the government. Pneumococcal vaccine was offered to residents in 12% of the facilities. The proportions of facilities with >10% and >75% of residents vaccinated were significantly higher in the provinces where the pneumococcal vaccine was recommended and paid for as compared with those where it was not (P<0.001 for both). Tuberculin skin testing programs for residents existed in 360 long-term care facilities (28%) across the country.

In 1990, the number of residents living in Canadian long-term care facilities who were vaccinated against influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae was suboptimal. Staff influenza vaccination rates were very low across the country. Most facilities did not have a baseline tuberculin skin test status for their residents. Vaccination rates are higher in jurisdictions in which governments provide the vaccine without charge.

To screen copper and noncopper paints for their bactericidal effectiveness in rendering surfaces self-disinfecting.

Tested paints were applied to glass coverslips, cured, inoculated with test organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis), and dried. After 0, 24, or 48 hours, surviving organisms were eluted and enumerated, and counts compared with those obtained from inoculated control (unpainted) coverslips for the corresponding time periods. Copper elution from select copper paints was quantified by complete immersion of coated coverslips followed by spectroscopic analysis to infer a threshold relationship between kill and copper release.

Nearly all of the tested copper paints were capable of reducing organism counts to negligible levels within 24 hours. Exterior latex paints supplemented with a fungicide were similarly efficacious. Standard interior latex paint reduced bacterial counts to nearly zero within 24 hours for E coli and P aeruginosa, and to zero within 48 hours for E faecalis. However, substantial survival of S aureus occurred (up to 4 logs at 24 hours). Chi-squared analysis of elution and cidal data indicated that lethality was dependent on copper release in excess of 32 μg.

The data support presumptive bactericidal claims for several copper and noncopper paints. Despite controversy over environment-based contagion, such paints could be used to render surfaces self-disinfecting in strategic locations where environmental causation of nosocomial infections is suspected.

To determine the prevalence, incidence, and etiology of conjunctivitis in residents of a long-term care facility.

Prospective surveillance of episodes of conjunctivitis during two 6-month periods.

Three-building, 319-bed, multipurpose, long-term care facility including units for personal care, chronic care, palliative care, rehabilitation, respiratory rehabilitation, and chronic ventilator patients.

The incidence of conjunctivitis on different units varied from 0.6 to 3.5 per 1,000 patient-days. One building had a significantly higher rate of acute conjunctivitis and, within that facility, the most highly impaired patients had significantly more disease. Patients with chronic conjunctivitis generally were admitted with conjunctivitis; institutionally acquired conjunctivitis proceeding to chronic conjunctivitis seldom was observed except on the chronic ventilator unit. Residents with chronic conjunctivitis were significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of glaucoma, ectropion, or entropion. Potential bacterial pathogens were isolated from 3 (21%) of 14 and 24 (38%) of 69 acute episodes for which cultures were available in the two study periods. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen isolated. Empiric therapy was usually with topical sodium sulamyd or gentamicin, with substantial interphysician variability in prescribing patterns. Symptom duration did not differ for episodes which did or did not receive topical antimicrobials.

Conjunctivitis is common in this facility and occurs with increased frequency in more highly impaired residents. Most episodes may not be due to bacterial infection. Further study of optimal management approaches to conjunctivitis is necessary

To determine the proportion of major surgical procedures that involve patients having serologic evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a single center in Westchester County, New York.

Blood samples sent for transfusion screening or cross-match were tested blindly for HIV antibody (anti-HIV), HBV core antibody, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV antibody (anti-HCV). Demographic characteristics and operation category were correlated with serologic results by univariate and regression analyses.

Of 1,062 operations evaluated, 71 (6.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI95], 5.2% to 8.4%) were performed on patients with either anti-HIV, HBsAg, or anti-HCV. In 17 (1.6%, CI95, .93% to 2.5%) of these operations, the patient evidenced anti-HIV; in 15 (1.4%, CI95, .79% to 2.3%), HBsAg; and in 55 (5.2%, CI95, 3.9% to 6.7%), anti-HCV. Anti-HCV was detected significantly more often than anti-HIV (5.2% versus 1.6%, P<.001) or HBsAg (5.2% versus 1.4%,P<.001). Operations involving women aged 25 to 44 years had the highest proportion with serologic evidence of at least one of the three viruses (17.2%); of anti-HCV (15.3%); and of anti-HIV (6.7%). Logistic regression analysis found that being in the 25- to 44-year age group was associated significantly with infection with any virus (P<.001) and with anti-HCV (P<.001). The strongest logistic predictors of anti-HIV seropositivity were having anti-HCV seropositivity (P<.001), being age 25 to 44 years (P<.001), and having a general surgery operation (P=.002).

The prevalences of serologic evidence of at least one of the three viruses (16.7%), of anti-HCV (14.5%), and of anti-HIV (5.6%) are high in patients aged 25 to 44 years undergoing major surgery at a tertiary-care medical center located in Westchester County, New York. Anti-HCV is more prevalent than anti-HIV or HBsAg and is predictive of anti-HIV seropositivity. Testing for anti-HIV alone would have detected only 24% of patients infected with a bloodborne pathogen. These data strongly underscore the importance of universal precautions.