Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Journals
  3. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
  4. Volume 7
Journal Home
Refine listing

Refine listing

Access:
Publication date:
Topic: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×
< Back to all issues

Volume 7 - June 1986

Contents

Page 1 of 11

Departments

Editorial

  • Methicillin-Susceptible “Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus:” A Sheep in Wolves' Clothing

  • James E. Peacock, Jr.
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, pp. 161-163
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

Departments

Other

Departments

Foreword

  • The Irreducible Minimum

  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, p. 91
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

Departments

Letters to the Editor

Departments

  • Routine Whirlpool Cultures: The Liabilities of Performance and Discontinuation

  • Dotti Smith
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, p. 443
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

Research Article

  • Nosocomial Infection—The Irreducible Minimum

  • G.A.J. Ayliffe
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, pp. 92-95

  • Prevalence surveys in different countries have shown that about 1 in 10 hospitalized patients at any one time have acquired an infection and the incidence of infection is usually about 3% to 5%. Can this infection rate be significantly reduced and is there an irreducible minimum below which further reduction cannot be obtained? Cross-infection could probably be almost eliminated by the use of plastic isolators or life islands, and endogenous infections reduced by the wider and more rational prophylactic use of topical and systemic antimicrobial agents, and possibly a range of vaccines. However, the use of these techniques on all patients would clearly be impractical and too expensive for use in the foreseeable future. Excessive isolation techniques would have a detrimental psychological effect on many patients. In addition, failure to eradicate the organisms of the normal flora might be associated with more infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fungi and viruses which would be more difficult to treat. Even if organisms could be eradicated, morbidity and mortality might not be correspondingly reduced. Priorities must therefore be set on the most effective use of staff and finances. These not only involve a consideration of infection, but all areas of clinical practice, eg, costs of cardiac transplants and provision of geriatric facilities. It therefore seems likely that little additional finance will be available for control of infection, other than possibly for transmissible infections with high mortality such as AIDS.

Letters to the Editor

  • Hepatitis B Infection in a Vaccinated Renal Dialysis Staff Worker

  • Charles H. Woernle, Max Taylor, Thomas D. Wooldridge, John W. Cox
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, p. 9
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

Letters to the Editor

Departments

  • Abstracts Invited for Second International Symposium on Infection Control

  • Richard P. Wenzel
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, p. 208
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

  • Report on Chloroxylenol-Containing Antiseptic: Reference Correction

  • David Birnbaum
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, p. 532
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

  • Toxic Shock in a Hospital Employee Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

  • Bryan P. Simmons, Munn, Michael Gelfand
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, pp. 350-352
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

  • The Value of a Streamlined Surveillance Method

  • Susan Page, Philip Mead, Kathryn Howe
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    02 January 2015, p. 254
    • Article
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • Export citation

Page 1 of 11