The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage among dialysis and kidney transplant patients, to identify the antimicrobial resistance profile of these strains and to verify their genetic profiles with the RW3A primer. The study included 159 individuals, comprising 111 dialysis and 48 kidney transplant patients. Of the 48 transplant patients, 75% were positive for S. aureus, whereas 49% of the 111 dialysis patients were carriers. Two samples yielded conflicting results for oxacillin sensitivity between the disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays: both were sensitive by the disk diffusion assay and resistant by MIC (4 μg/ml). In the antibiogram by disk diffusion, ten samples were resistant to cefoxitin, among which eight were also resistant to oxacillin. The resistance of the ten samples to cefoxitin by the disk diffusion assay was confirmed by MIC. Of the ten oxacillin-resistant samples, eight harbored the mecA gene. All samples were sensitive to vancomycin, and most were resistant to penicillin and demonstrated high rates of resistance to the other antimicrobials tested. The samples from dialysis patients exhibited a more homogenous genetic profile. Among the samples with a high percent similarity, no correlation with sensitivity or resistance to oxacillin was observed. According to the results of this study, the implementation of prevention and control measures, such as increased restrictions on prescriptions for antimicrobial drugs and nasal decontamination prior to high-risk procedures, is recommended.

This bibliographical study of Brazilian research output aimed to identify the way in which nursing professionals have approached the theme of hospital-acquired infections. Fifteen publications from the ten-year period 1999- 2009 from the SciELO database were analyzed; the search was carried out in March 2010 and the data analyzed by content analysis. Five thematic categories were found: the concept of hospital-acquired infections; healthcare professionals' understanding of hospital-acquired infections and the Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Commission; healthcare professionals' responsibility in the control of hospital-acquired infections; the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections; and the necessity for appropriate training during the undergraduate course. It is concluded that more research is needed, principally where nursing and patient care are affected. This study should serve as a base for discussion on the matter.

Estudio bibliográfico cuyor objetivo fue identificar, en la producción científica nacional, la forma como el profesional de enfermería viene abordando el tema infección hospitalar. Fueron analizadas 15 publicaciones del periodo de diez años - 1999 a 2009 - en la base de datos SciELO; la búsqueda fue hecha en el mes de marzo de 2010 y los datos fueron analizados por medio del análisis de contenido. Surgieron cinco categorías temáticas: el concepto de infección hospitalar; la comprensión de los profesionales sobre infección hospitalar y Comisión de Control de Infección Hospitalar; responsabilidad de los profesionales en control de infección hospitalar; la prevención y control de Infección Hospitalar; y necesidad de formación adecuada durante la graduación. Se concluye que el tema debería ser más investigado, principalmente en lo que se refiere a la enfermería y al cuidado al paciente; el presente estudio sirve de subsidio para instigar discusiones sobre el tema.

Estudo bibliográfico teve por objetivo identificar, na produção científica nacional, a forma como o profissional de enfermagem tem abordado o tema infecção hospitalar. Foram analisadas 15 publicações do período de dez anos - 1999 a 2009 - na base de dados SciELO; a busca foi feita no mês de março de 2010 e os dados analisados por meio da análise de conteúdo. Foram encontradas cinco categorias temáticas: o conceito de infecção hospitalar; a compreensão dos profissionais sobre infecção hospitalar e Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar; responsabilidade dos profissionais no controle de infecção hospitalar; a prevenção e controle da Infecção Hospitalar; e necessidade de formação adequada durante a graduação. Conclui-se que o tema deveria ser mais pesquisado, principalmente no que tange à Enfermagem e ao cuidado ao paciente; o presente estudo serve de subsídio para instigar discussões sobre o tema.