[Hygiene measures in the intensive care station].
Medical personnel in intensive care units (ICU) deal with critically ill patients and a high work load. Patients face a higher risk of acquiring a nosocomial infection during their ICU stay. Especially, invasively ventilated patients are threatened. A catheter-related bloodstream infection might even lead to more severe complications. The number of multiresistant pathogens continues to rise; thus, comprehensive infection control measures are crucial to avoid pathogen transmission and infection. The most important measure is hand disinfection. With a proper personnel-patient ratio, educational programs, and infection control bundles, it is possible to reduce infection rates and enhance compliance among health care workers.
Institut für Hygiene und Umweltmedizin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 27, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland, peter.bischoff@charite.de.
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D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control