Efficacy of an infection control program in reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia in a Chinese neonatal intensive care unit

AbstractObjective:To investigate and control a biphasic outbreak ofSerratia marcescensin a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Design:Epidemiological and laboratory investigation of the outbreak.Setting:The NICU of the 1,470-bed teaching hospital of the University “Federico II,” Naples, Italy.Patients:The outbreak involved 56 cases of colonization by Smarcescensover a 15-month period, with two epidemic peaks of 6 and 3 months, respectively. Fourteen (25%) of the 56 colonized infants developed clinical infections, 50% of which were major (sepsis, meningitis, or pneumonia).Methods:Epidemiological and microbiological investigations, analysis of macrorestriction pattern of genomic DNA through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of clinical and environmental isolates, and institution of infection control measures.Results:Analysis of macrorestriction patterns of genomic DNA by PFGE demonstrated that the vast majority of Smarcescensisolates, including three environmental strains isolated from two handwashing disinfectants and the hands of a nurse, were of the same clonal type. The successful control of the outbreak was achieved through cohorting of noncolonized infants, isolation of Smarcescens-infectedand -colonized infants, and an intense educational program that emphasized the need for adherence to glove use and handwashing policies. The NICU remained open to new admissions.Conclusions:Outbreaks caused by Smarcescensare very difficult to eradicate. An infection control program that includes molecular typing of microorganisms and the proper dissemination among staff members of the typing results is likely to be very effective in reducing NICU-acquired infections and in controlling outbreaks caused by Smarcescens,as well as other multiresistant bacteria.

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Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), Part II: Impact of a Multidimensional Strategy to Reduce Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in 10 Developing Countries

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/666342 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (7) ◽

pp. 704-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Victor D. Rosenthal ◽

Maria E. Rodríguez-Calderón ◽

Marena Rodríguez-Ferrer ◽

Tanu Singhal ◽

Mandakini Pawar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Infection Control ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Control Program ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care Units ◽

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Infection Control Program

Design.Before-after prospective surveillance study to assess the efficacy of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional infection control program to reduce the rate of occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Setting.Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of INICC member hospitals from 15 cities in the following 10 developing countries: Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, India, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Tunisia, and Turkey.Patients.NICU inpatients.Methods.VAP rates were determined during a first period of active surveillance without the implementation of the multidimensional approach (phase 1) to be then compared with VAP rates after implementation of the INICC multidimensional infection control program (phase 2), which included the following practices: a bundle of infection control interventions, education, outcome surveillance, process surveillance, feedback on VAP rates, and performance feedback on infection control practices. This study was conducted by infection control professionals who applied National Health Safety Network (NHSN) definitions for healthcare-associated infections and INICC surveillance methodology.Results.During phase 1, we recorded 3,153 mechanical ventilation (MV)–days, and during phase 2, after the implementation of the bundle of interventions, we recorded 15,981 MV-days. The VAP rate was 17.8 cases per 1,000 MV-days during phase 1 and 12.0 cases per 1,000 MV-days during phase 2 (relative risk, 0.67 [95% confidence interval, 0.50–0.91]; P = .001 ), indicating a 33% reduction in VAP rate.Conclusions.Our results demonstrate that an implementation of the INICC multidimensional infection control program was associated with a significant reduction in VAP rate in NICUs in developing countries.

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