Editor's Note Reducing the number of OR personnel during preparation of sterile surgical goods significantly lowers airborne bacterial contamination, according to a randomized controlled trial published June 15 in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. The study measured contamination levels during sterile setup for 69 open-heart surgeries, comparing rooms with two…
Over 20 years ago, an article from Johns Hopkins published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that Staphylococcus aureus decolonization of the nares can decrease risk of surgical site infections (SSI). Since then, nasal decolonization—the application of a topical antimicrobial or antiseptic agent to the nares—has been adopted…
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug administration approved Zevtera for treating Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) bloodstream infections, which are often acquired in healthcare settings. In the April 3 announcement, the agency notes the new antibiotic Zevtera (ceftobiprole medocaril sodium for injection) is effective for SAB-infected patients with right-sided infective…
Editor's Note Recent research delved into the connection between the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the anesthesia work area and the occurrence of surgical site infections (SSIs), Anesthesiology News July 19 reports. While it was previously recognized that reducing microbial transmission through the anesthesia work area is crucial for preventing…