Effect of an infection control program using education and performance feedback on rates of intravascular device-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units in Argentina☆
Section snippets
Setting
The study was conducted in 2 medical centers in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bernal Medical Center and Colegiales Medical Center). Each center has an infection control team comprised of a medical doctor (with formal education and background in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and hospital epidemiology) and an infection control nurse.10
Bernal Medical Center is a private, 150-bed hospital with 1 medical/surgical ICU (17 beds) and 1 coronary ICU (15 beds). Colegiales Medical Center is a
Results
During the study period (April 1999 to July 2001), 840 adult patients in the study ICUs required CVCs and all of these patients were enrolled in the study. Patients from phase 1 were very similar to patients from phases 2 and 3 with regard to sex, age, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and HIV (Table 2).
During the study periods we evaluated compliance with catheter care for a total of 347 observations in phase 1; 169 observations in phase 2; and 5165 observations in phase 3. Compliance with IVD site
Discussion
Patients who are critically ill often require central venous access for the administration of fluids, medicines, and blood products. Unfortunately the use of CVCs is associated with a considerable risk of infection.16., 17. When infection does occur, studies have repeatedly demonstrated an increased length of hospitalization, excess costs,5., 7. and an increased attributable mortality.7., 8. For example, Digiovine et al6 found that IVD-associated BSIs resulted in an excess length of
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Supported in part by a grant from Baxter Healthcare.