[Survey of measures for the prevention of infections in bone marrow transplantation centers].
This paper reports on the results of a survey conducted on the organization of bone marrow transplant (BMT) centers in Italy, with particular attention to the measures routinely adopted for the prevention of infectious complications in BMT patients. In 1997, a questionnaire containing 53 questions with multiple-answers and 15 with single-answer was sent to the 65 Italian BMT centers. The topics addressed in the questionnaire were the following: general structural organization of the BMT center; personnel organization; type of transplants (autologous, allogenic, both); type of protective environment; hygiene measures and food; management of central venous catheters; microbiological surveillance. Fifty questionnaires out of 65 (77%) were available. The analysis of data indicated that most centers (more than 60%) use complex and multiple measures for the prevention of infections. These are mainly represented by careful personal hygiene of the patient, protective isolation of the patient from other patients and relatives; careful washing of personnels' hands before entering patients room; extensive microbiological surveillance. Furthermore, 52% of BMT centers adopt additional measures, such as filtered air, while 22% of centers, on the contrary, lack any air-conditioning apparatus. Overall, the results of the survey indicate that there is a substantial variability in the adoption and evaluation of the impact of such different measures on the incidence of infectious complications after BMT.
Errico
A
A
Unità di Trapianto di Midollo Osseo, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Firenze.
Rasero
L
L
Bertelli
A
A
Tellarini
G
G
D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007558:Italy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires