Evaluation of the effectiveness of an infection control program in adult intensive care units: a report from a middle-income country

Interventions promoting uptake of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) technologies in low- and middle-income countries: An evidence and gap map of effectiveness studies

Background

Lack of access to and use of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cause 1.6 million deaths every year, of which 1.2 million are due to gastrointestinal illnesses like diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections like pneumonia. Poor WASH access and use also diminish nutrition and educational attainment, and cause danger and stress for vulnerable populations, especially for women and girls. The hardest hit regions are sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 calls for the end of open defecation, and universal access to safely managed water and sanitation facilities, and basic hand hygiene, by 2030. WASH access and use also underpin progress in other areas such as SDG1 poverty targets, SDG3 health and SDG4 education targets. Meeting the SDG equity agenda to "leave none behind" will require WASH providers prioritise the hardest to reach including those living remotely and people who are disadvantaged.

Objectives

Decision makers need access to high-quality evidence on what works in WASH promotion in different contexts, and for different groups of people, to reach the most disadvantaged populations and thereby achieve universal targets. The WASH evidence map is envisioned as a tool for commissioners and researchers to identify existing studies to fill synthesis gaps, as well as helping to prioritise new studies where there are gaps in knowledge. It also supports policymakers and practitioners to navigate the evidence base, including presenting critically appraised findings from existing systematic reviews.

Methods

This evidence map presents impact evaluations and systematic reviews from the WASH sector, organised according to the types of intervention mechanisms, WASH technologies promoted, and outcomes measured. It is based on a framework of intervention mechanisms (e.g., behaviour change triggering or microloans) and outcomes along the causal pathway, specifically behavioural outcomes (e.g., handwashing and food hygiene practices), ill-health outcomes (e.g., diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality), nutrition and socioeconomic outcomes (e.g., school absenteeism and household income). The map also provides filters to examine the evidence for a particular WASH technology (e.g., latrines), place of use (e.g., home, school or health facility), location (e.g., global region, country, rural and urban) and group (e.g., people living with disability). Systematic searches for published and unpublished literature and trial registries were conducted of studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Searches were conducted in March 2018, and searches for completed trials were done in May 2020. Coding of information for the map was done by two authors working independently. Impact evaluations were critically appraised according to methods of conduct and reporting. Systematic reviews were critically appraised using a new approach to assess theory-based, mixed-methods evidence synthesis.

Results

There has been an enormous growth in impact evaluations and systematic reviews of WASH interventions since the International Year of Sanitation, 2008. There are now at least 367 completed or ongoing rigorous impact evaluations in LMICs, nearly three-quarters of which have been conducted since 2008, plus 43 systematic reviews. Studies have been done in 83 LMICs, with a high concentration in Bangladesh, India, and Kenya. WASH sector programming has increasingly shifted in focus from what technology to supply (e.g., a handwashing station or child's potty), to the best way in which to do so to promote demand. Research also covers a broader set of intervention mechanisms. For example, there has been increased interest in behaviour change communication using psychosocial "triggering", such as social marketing and community-led total sanitation. These studies report primarily on behavioural outcomes. With the advent of large-scale funding, in particular by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, there has been a substantial increase in the number of studies on sanitation technologies, particularly latrines. Sustaining behaviour is fundamental for sustaining health and other quality of life improvements. However, few studies have been done of intervention mechanisms for, or measuring outcomes on sustained adoption of latrines to stop open defaecation. There has also been some increase in the number of studies looking at outcomes and interventions that disproportionately affect women and girls, who quite literally carry most of the burden of poor water and sanitation access. However, most studies do not report sex disaggregated outcomes, let alone integrate gender analysis into their framework. Other vulnerable populations are even less addressed; no studies eligible for inclusion in the map were done of interventions targeting, or reporting on outcomes for, people living with disabilities. We were only able to find a single controlled evaluation of WASH interventions in a health care facility, in spite of the importance of WASH in health facilities in global policy debates. The quality of impact evaluations has improved, such as the use of controlled designs as standard, attention to addressing reporting biases, and adequate cluster sample size. However, there remain important concerns about quality of reporting. The quality and usefulness of systematic reviews for policy is also improving, which draw clearer distinctions between intervention mechanisms and synthesise the evidence on outcomes along the causal pathway. Adopting mixed-methods approaches also provides information for programmes on barriers and enablers affecting implementation.

Conclusion

Ensuring everyone has access to appropriate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities is one of the most fundamental of challenges for poverty elimination. Researchers and funders need to consider carefully where there is the need for new primary evidence, and new syntheses of that evidence. This study suggests the following priority areas:Impact evaluations incorporating understudied outcomes, such as sustainability and slippage, of WASH provision in understudied places of use, such as health care facilities, and of interventions targeting, or presenting disaggregated data for, vulnerable populations, particularly over the life-course and for people living with a disability;Improved reporting in impact evaluations, including presentation of participant flow diagrams; andSynthesis studies and updates in areas with sufficient existing and planned impact evaluations, such as for diarrhoea mortality, ARIs, WASH in schools and decentralisation. These studies will preferably be conducted as mixed-methods systematic reviews that are able to answer questions about programme targeting, implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and compare alternative intervention mechanisms to achieve and sustain outcomes in particular contexts, preferably using network meta-analysis.

The Impact of Quality Improvement Interventions in Improving Surgical Infections and Mortality in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Morbidity and mortality in surgical systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain high compared to high-income countries. Quality improvement processes, interventions, and structure are essential in the effort to improve peri-operative outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies assessing quality improvement processes, interventions, and structure in developing country surgical systems was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they were conducted in an LMIC, occurred in a surgical setting, and measured the effect of an implementation and its impact. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes were rates of rates of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and surgical site infections (SSI). Prospero Registration: CRD42020171542.

RESULT

Of 38,273 search results, 31 studies were included in a qualitative synthesis, and 28 articles were included in a meta-analysis. Implementation of multimodal bundled interventions reduced the incidence of HAI by a relative risk (RR) of 0.39 (95%CI 0.26 to 0.59), the effect of hand hygiene interventions on HAIs showed a non-significant effect of RR of 0.69 (0.46-1.05). The WHO Safe Surgery Checklist reduced mortality by RR 0.68 (0.49 to 0.95) and SSI by RR 0.50 (0.33 to 0.63) and antimicrobial stewardship interventions reduced SSI by RR 0.67 (0.48-0.93).

CONCLUSION

There is evidence that a number of quality improvement processes, interventions and structural changes can improve mortality, HAI and SSI outcomes in the peri-operative setting in LMICs.

National Infection Control Program in Turkey: The healthcare associated infection rate experiences over 10 years

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of healthcare associated infection (HAI) is generally higher in countries with limited resources than developed countries. To address the high prevalence of HAI, Turkish Ministry of Health introduced a national infection control program in 2005.

METHODS

Device associated (DA)-HAIs routinely surveyed included ventilator associated events, urinary catheter associated urinary tract infection and central line associated blood stream infection. Rates in DA-HAI were examined from 2008 to 2017 by type of hospitals, bed capacity, and geographic location of hospitals.

RESULTS

All DA-HAIs declined significantly from 2008 to 2017 nationally for ventilator associated events from 16.69 to 4.86 per 1,000 device days (IRR = 0.29, P < .0001), catheter associated urinary tract infection from 4.98 to 1.59 per 1,000 catheter days (IRR = 0.31, P < .0001) and central line associated blood stream infection from 5.65 to 2.82 per 1,000 catheter days (IRR = 0.47, P < .0001). The rates for DA-HAIs declined significantly in hospitals with ≥200 beds and <200 bed capacity and in all 4 type of hospitals. By 2017 all DA-HAI had significantly improved across all regions.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of a new national surveillance system supported by a national infection control program has significantly reduced 3 major DA-HAIs that are associated with risk of treatment failure and death. The next critical step in sustaining this crucial improvement will require timely feedback to hospitals using technology and continued buy-in from clinicians for their commitment to safety associated with DA-HAIs using aspirational DA-HAI rates.

Preventive Measures and Management of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Adult Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) has been studied worldwide as part of device-related healthcare infection. CAUTI is one of the most commonly reported infections in the literature, which occurs during clinical practice in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and non-ICU departments. Many studies have covered the CAUTI rate in Saudi Arabia mainly in the ICU covering single or multiple hospitals as surveillance for device-related infections in the ICU. Few studies have conducted an interventional approach that examined the implementation of infection control protocols and then compared them to international practice as a standard. This review aims to explore the literature to provide insight into the infection control practices that have been reported in Saudi Arabia during the last two decades on the preventive measures and clinical consequences of CAUTIs. Very few studies have recorded the pattern of resistant microorganisms that burdens clinical practice in ICUs concerning CAUTIs. Only one study compared the type of catheter materials and discussed the effect of these materials on reducing CAUTIs. It is essential to cover catheter utilization and to understand how a sufficient infection control protocol with educational programs for healthcare personnel can transform practice, for the better, regarding CAUTI rates in Saudi hospitals. There is a demand for more interventional and epidemiological studies on the causes and factors affecting the rate of CAUTI in the area. Studies may help reduce the CAUTI incidence rate, which consequently reduces the costs and morbidity associated with this type of infection and other healthcare-related infections.

Infection prevention practices in the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan: Results from national surveys

OBJECTIVE

To assess the extent to which evidence-based practices are regularly used in acute care hospitals in different countries.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey study. Participants and setting: Infection preventionists in acute care hospitals in the United States (US), the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan.

METHODS

Data collected from hospital surveys distributed between 2015 and 2017 were evaluated to determine the use of practices to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Descriptive statistics were used to examine hospital characteristics and the percentage of hospitals reporting regular use of each infection prevention practice.

RESULTS

Survey response rates were 59% in the United States, 65% in the Netherlands, 77% in Switzerland, and 65% in Japan. Several recommended practices were used in the majority of hospitals: aseptic catheter insertion and maintenance (CAUTI), maximum sterile barrier precautions (CLABSI), semirecumbent patient positioning (VAP), and contact precautions and routine daily cleaning (CDI). Other prevention practices for CAUTI and VAP were used less frequently, particularly in Swiss and Japanese hospitals. Established surveillance systems were also lacking in Dutch, Swiss and Japanese hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Most hospitals in the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan have adopted certain infection prevention practices. Clear opportunities for reducing HAI risk in hospitals exist across all 4 countries surveyed.

Pathogenesis-Targeted Preventive Strategies for Multidrug Resistant Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Narrative Review

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common hospital-acquired infection in the intensive care unit (ICU), accounting for relevant morbidity and mortality among critically ill patients, especially when caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms. The rising problem of MDR etiologies, which has led to a reduction in treatment options, have increased clinician’s attention to the employment of effective prevention strategies. In this narrative review we summarized the evidence resulting from 27 original articles that were identified through a systematic database search of the last 15 years, focusing on several pathogenesis-targeted strategies which could help preventing MDR-VAP. Oral hygiene with Chlorhexidine (CHX), CHX body washing, selective oral decontamination (SOD) and/or digestive decontamination (SDD), multiple decontamination regimens, probiotics, subglottic secretions drainage (SSD), special cuff material and shape, silver-coated endotracheal tubes (ETTs), universal use of gloves and contact isolation, alcohol-based hand gel, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and bundles of care have been addressed. The most convincing evidence came from interventions directly addressed against the key factors of MDR-VAP pathogenesis, especially when they are jointly implemented into bundles. Further research, however, is warranted to identify the most effective combination.

Everybody hands-on to avoid ESKAPE: effect of sustained hand hygiene compliance on healthcare-associated infections and multidrug resistance in a paediatric hospital

PURPOSE

Hand hygiene is the most important strategy for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs); however, the impact of hand hygiene in middle-income countries has been poorly described. In this work, we describe the impact of the programme 'Let's Go for 100' on hand hygiene adherence, HCAIs rates and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, including the molecular typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.

METHODOLOGY

A multimodal, hospital-wide hand hygiene programme was implemented from 2013. 'Let's Go for 100' involved all healthcare workers and encompassed education, awareness, visual reminders, feedback and innovative strategies. Monthly hand hygiene monitoring and active HCAI surveillance were performed in every ward. Molecular typing of MRSA was analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results/Key findings. Hand hygiene adherence increased from 34.9 % during the baseline period to 80.6 % in the last 3 months of this study. The HCAI rate decreased from 7.54 to 6.46/1000 patient-days (P=0.004). The central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSIs) rate fell from 4.84 to 3.66/1000 central line-days (P=0.05). Negative correlations between hand hygiene and HCAIs rates were identified. The attack rate of MDR-ESKAPE group bloodstream infections decreased from 0.54 to 0.20/100 discharges (P=0.024). MRSA pulsotypes that were prevalent during the baseline period were no longer detected after the 5^th quarter, although new strains were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

A multimodal hand hygiene programme in a paediatric hospital in a middle-income country was effective in improving adherence and reducing HCAIs, CLABSIs and MDR-ESKAPE bloodstream infections. Sustaining hand hygiene adherence at a level of >60 % for one year limited MRSA clonal transmission.

Infection control bundles in intensive care: an international cross-sectional survey in low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is not known due to a lack of national surveillance systems, standardized infection definitions, and paucity of infection prevention and control (IPC) organizations and legal infrastructure.

AIM

To determine the status of IPC bundle practice and the most frequent interventional variables in LMICs.

METHODS

A questionnaire was emailed to Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) Group Members and dedicated IPC doctors working in LMICs to examine self-reported practices/policies regarding IPC bundles. Responding country incomes were classified by World Bank definitions into low, middle, and high. Comparison of LMIC results was then made to a control group of high-income countries (HICs).

FINDINGS

This survey reports practices from one low-income country (LIC), 16 middle-income countries (MICs) (13 European), compared to eight high-income countries (HICs). Eighteen (95%) MICs had an IPC committee in their hospital, 12 (63.2%) had an annual agreed programme and produced an HCAI report. Annual agreed programmes (87.5% vs 63.2%, respectively) and an annual HCAI report (75.0% vs 63.2%, respectively) were more common in HICs than MICs. All HICs had at least one invasive device-related surveillance programme. Seven (37%) MICs had no invasive device-related surveillance programme, six (32%) had no ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundles, seven (37%) had no catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention bundles, and five (27%) had no central line-associated bloodstream infection prevention bundles.

CONCLUSION

LMICs need to develop their own bundles with low-cost and high-level-of-evidence variables adapted to the limited resources, with further validation in reducing infection rates.

Device-associated nosocomial infection in general hospitals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013-2016

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) including device-associated HAI (DA-HAI) are a serious patient safety issue in hospitals worldwide, affecting 5–10% of hospitalized patients and deadly for patients in intensive care units (ICUs). (Vincent, 2003; Al-Tawfiq et al., 2013; Hu et al., 2013). DA-HAIs account for up to 23% of HAIs in ICUs and about 40% of all hospital infections (i.e. central line-associated blood stream infections [CLABSI], ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP], and catheter-associated urinary tract infections [CAUTI]). This study aims to identify DA-HAI rates among a group of selected hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), 2013–2016. Secondary data was analyzed from 12 medical/surgical intensive care units (M/SICUs) and two cardiac care units (CCUs) from 12 Ministry of Health (MoH) hospitals from different regions in KSA. These data were reported by infection control practitioners to the MoH via electronic International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) systems in each hospital. Among 6178 ICU patients with 13,492 DA-HAIs during 2013–2016, the average length of stay (LOS) was 10.7 days (range 0–379 days). VAP was the most common DA-HAI (57.4%), followed by CAUTI (28.4%), and CLABSI (14.2%). In CCUs there were no CLABSI cases; CAUTI was reported from 1 to 2.6 per 1000 device-days; and VAP did not occur in Hospital B but occurred 8.1 times per 1000 device-days in the CCU in Hospital A. In M/SICUs, variations occurred among time periods, hospitals, and KSA provinces. CLABSI varied between hospitals from 2.2 to 10.5 per 1000 device-days. CAUTI occurred from 2.3 to 4.4 per 1000 device-days, while VAP had the highest rates, from 8.9 to 39.6 per 1000 device-days. Most hospitals had high device-utilization ratios (DURs) (from the 75th to 90th percentile of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)’s standard and the 50th to 75th percentile of INICC’s). This study showed higher device-associated infection rates and higher device-utilization ratios in the study’s CCUs and M/SICUs than NHSN benchmarks. To reduce the rates of infection, ongoing monitoring of infection control practices and comprehensive education are required. Furthermore, a sensitive and specific national healthcare safety network is needed in KSA.

Prospective surveillance of healthcare associated infections in a Cambodian pediatric hospital

Background

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are the most common preventable adverse events following admission to healthcare facilities. Data from low-income countries are scarce. We sought to prospectively define HAI incidence at Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC), a Cambodian pediatric referral hospital.

Methods

Prospective HAI surveillance was introduced for medical admissions to AHC. Cases were identified on daily ward rounds and confirmed using locally adapted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions. During the surveillance period, established infection prevention and control (IPC) activities continued, including hand hygiene surveillance. In addition, antimicrobial stewardship practices such as the creation of an antimicrobial guideline smartphone app were introduced.

Results

Between 1st January and 31st December 2015 there were 3,263 medical admissions and 102 HAI cases. The incidence of HAI was 4.6/1,000 patient-days (95% confidence interval 3.8–5.6) and rates were highest amongst neonates. Median length of stay was significantly longer in HAI cases: 25 days versus 5 days for non-HAI cases (p < 0.0001). All-cause in-hospital mortality increased from 2.0 to 16.1% with HAI (p < 0.0001). Respiratory infections were the most common HAI (54/102; 52.9%). Amongst culture positive infections, Gram-negative organisms predominated (13/16; 81.3%). Resistance to third generation cephalosporins was common, supporting the use of more expensive carbapenem drugs empirically in HAI cases. The total cost of treatment for all 102 HCAI cases combined, based on additional inpatient days, was estimated to be $299,608.

Conclusions

Prospective HAI surveillance can form part of routine practice in low-income healthcare settings. HAI incidence at AHC was relatively low, but human and financial costs remained high due to increased carbapenem use, prolonged admissions and higher mortality rates.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13756-017-0172-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Continued direct observation and feedback of hand hygiene adherence can result in long-term improvement

BACKGROUND

Hospital-wide multifaceted approaches can improve hand hygiene compliance in health care workers. However, the true effects of monitoring and feedback interventions are not clear.

METHODS

Hand hygiene compliance was evaluated by applying direct observation techniques over 5 years (2005-2009) in a tertiary care general hospital in Japan. The observed results were periodically reported as feedback to the health care workers.

RESULTS

The overall hand hygiene compliance rate increased from 50.8% in 2005 to 61.0% in 2006 (P = .004) and was sustained at approximately 60% through the completion of the study. The compliance rate for the indication before entering the room increased from 2005 to 2009 (P = .005). The compliance rates for 4 before patient contact indications increased from 2005 to 2009 (P = .002). The combined compliance rate for the 6 indications with the lowest compliance rates in 2005 increased from 2005 to 2009 (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Direct observation and feedback methods are effective strategies that resulted in a long-lasting improvement in hand hygiene compliance that was sustained over 5 years through the completion of the study. Focusing on the procedures with high baseline noncompliance rates can be an effective way to improve the overall compliance.

Are we sending the wrong message when we ask health care workers to wash their hands?

When asking healthcare workers to wash their hands, perhaps a better message would be to ask them not to transmit diseases. This changes the emphasis from a single act of adherence to a concept of behavior change. Proper hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment, and cough etiquette are the means to an end, to stop the transfer to organisms and disease, but not the ultimate goal itself. The ultimate goal is to stop the transmission of diseases and ultimately to decrease the occurrence of healthcare associated infections.

Cost-effectiveness of a hand hygiene program on health care-associated infections in intensive care patients at a tertiary care hospital in Vietnam

BACKGROUND

The cost-effectiveness of a hand hygiene (HH) program in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely unknown. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of a HH program in a large tertiary Vietnamese hospital.

METHODS

This was a before and after study of a hand hygiene program where HH compliance, incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and costs were analyzed.The HH program was implemented in 2 intensive care and 15 critical care units. The program included upgrading HH facilities, providing alcohol-based handrub at point of care, HH campaigns, and continuous HH education.

RESULTS

The HH compliance rate increased from 25.7% to 57.5% (P < .001). The incidence of patients with HAI decreased from 31.7% to 20.3% (P < .001) after the intervention. The mean cost for patients with HAI was $1,908, which was 2.5 times higher than the costs for patients without an HAI. The mean attributable cost of an HAI was $1,131. The total cost of the HH program was $12,570, which equates to a per-patient cost of $6.5. The cost-effectiveness was estimated at -$1,074 or $1,074 saved per HAI prevented. The intervention remained cost savings under various scenarios with lower HAI rates.

CONCLUSION

The HH program is an effective strategy in reducing the incidence of HAIs in intensive care units and is cost-effective in Vietnam. HH programs need to be encouraged across Vietnam and other LMICs.

The first six years of surveillance in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units in Turkey

BACKGROUND

Patients in resourced-limited neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (NICU and PICU) are vulnerable to healthcare associated infections (HAI). We report the incidence of HAI, multidrug resistant microorganisms (MDROs) and the pattern of antibiotic usage in the first six years of a surveillance program in a teaching hospital in Turkey.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2012 surveillance data for HAI, MDROs and antibiotic usage were collected from the infection control department, pathology, hospital admissions and pharmacy. In 2009 hand hygiene auditing was introduced. Hand sanitizer usage was expressed as liters per 1000 patient-days. Antibiotic usage was presented as defined daily doses (DDD). Evidence of change in the incidence of HAI was tested using Poison regression modeling.

RESULTS

The rate of gram negative MDRO in PICU increased significant between 2007 and 2012 (IRR 1.5, P = 0.033) but remained unchanged in NICU (P = 0.824). By 2012 ceftriaxone prescribing in PICU had decreased while carbapenem prescribing increased by 80 %. In NICU carbapenem decreased by 42 % and betalactam decreased by 29 %. Hand hygiene compliance significantly improved in PICU (IRR 1.9, p < 0.001) and NICU (IRR 2.2, p < 0.001) but compliance remained modest after three years with inconsistent levels across the 5 moments.

CONCLUSION

The early years of our infection control program highlights the endemicity of HAI and MDROs in our NICU and PICU. The consistent pattern of antibiotic usage, endemic MROs in PICU and modest hand hygiene clearly provide strategic focuses for intervention.