Translating infection prevention evidence into practice using quantitative and qualitative research

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2005.05.017

American Journal of Infection Control

Volume 34, Issue 8, October 2006, Pages 507-512

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2005.05.017 Get rights and content

Infection control professionals and hospital epidemiologists, using the valid methods of applied epidemiology–surveillance, benchmarking, intervention, evaluation–have largely been responsible for dramatically reducing the incidence of health care-associated infections over the past several decades. However, we believe that the field of infection control can–and should–also be a leader in understanding how research findings can be efficiently and effectively translated into clinical practice. Unfortunately, there is no current reliable information about which preventive practices are being used in US hospitals to prevent common device-related infections. If we are to understand how best to translate research into practice, the reasons hospitals are using some preventive practices–or are not–must be explored more fully. This article provides a framework for one proposed research endeavor to promote the successful translation of proven infection prevention practices and a subsequent decrease in health care-associated infections. In addition, we hope that this article will stimulate increased interest and research in identifying strategies that will successfully move evidence from the peer-reviewed literature to the patient's bedside.

Section snippets

Study overview

Drawing on the conceptual framework described in detail above, we plan to study the adoption and implementation of important, evidence-based infection prevention practices. More specifically, we are using a sequential mixed methods study design that relates a quantitative survey data analysis phase to a qualitative semistructured interview and observational phase (see Fig 2).⁵⁵ In the first phase, we will survey hospital infection control professionals to describe quantitatively and compare the

Conclusion

Infection control and hospital epidemiology is a modern day success story. Infection control professionals and hospital epidemiologists, using the valid methods of applied epidemiology–surveillance, benchmarking, intervention, evaluation–have largely been responsible for dramatically reducing the incidence of HAIs over the past several decades. We believe that the field of infection control can–and should–also be a leader in understanding how research findings can be efficiently and effectively

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: Supported by grant funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development Service (SAF 04-031); by a Career Development Award from the Health Services Research and Development Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs (to S.S.); and by a Patient Safety Developmental Center Grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (P20-HS11540, to T.P.H. and S.S.).

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Major ArticleTranslating infection prevention evidence into practice using quantitative and qualitative research

Section snippets

Study overview

Conclusion

Am J Infect Control

Am J Med

J Hosp Infect

J Hosp Infect

J Crit Care

Clin Invest Crit Care

Jt Comm J Qual Improv

Am J Infect Control

J Hosp Infect

Heart Lung

Am J Infect Control

Joint Commission J Qual Improv

Hospital-onset infections: a patient safety issue

Ann Intern Med

Eliminating catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit

Crit Care Med

The potential clinical and economic benefits of silver alloy urinary catheters in preventing urinary tract infection

Arch Intern Med

Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia: an evidence-based systematic review

Ann Intern Med

Prevention of central venous catheter-related infections by using maximal sterile barrier precautions during insertion

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

Nosocomial infections in medical intensive care units in the United States. National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System

Crit Care Med

Excess length of stay, charges, and mortality attributable to medical injuries during hospitalization

JAMA

The use of economic modeling to determine the hospital costs associated with nosocomial infections

Clin Infect Dis

Patient safety: infection control–a problem for patient safety

N Engl J Med

National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) report, data summary from October 1986-April 1997, issued May 1997: a report from the NNIS System

Am J Infect Control

National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) report, data summary from October 1986-April 1996, issued May 1996: a report from the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System

Am J Infect Control

National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) semiannual report, May 1995: a report from the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System

Am J Infect Control

Nosocomial infections in surgical patients in the United States, January 1986-June 1992: National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System

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Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. Institute of Medicine. To err is human: building a safer health system

Shattuck lecture: health care in the 21st Century

N Engl J Med

Major Article
Translating infection prevention evidence into practice using quantitative and qualitative research