The ventilator care bundle and its impact on ventilator-associated pneumonia: a review of the evidence

The Impact of a Multidisciplinary Education Program for Intensive Care Unit Staff Regarding Ventilator Care Bundle on the Frequency of Ventilator-Associated Events

BACKGROUND

Ventilator bundles have been reported to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, data concerning the role of the education of the intensive care unit (ICU) staff regarding the items in the bundle and the importance to adhere to its items on the development of ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are limited. This study aimed to compare the frequency of VAEs in subjects admitted to the ICU before and after the education of the ICU staff.

METHODS

A total of 105 subjects were enrolled in this retrospective study. The ICU staff, including the physicians, respiratory therapists, and nurses, received a 2-day educational lecture regarding items in the bundle as well as the need to adhere to its items. The study population was divided into two according to the admission date: subjects who were admitted before the education of the ICU staff regarding the ventilator bundle (preeducation) and subjects who were admitted after the education of the ICU staff regarding the ventilator bundle (posteducation). The difference in VAE rate in subjects admitted before and after bundle training was the primary outcome measure of this study.

RESULTS

The bundle compliance rates presented by days were significantly higher in the posteducation group compared with the preeducation group. Moreover, the frequency of VAEs was significantly lower in posteducation subjects compared with preeducation subjects (4.7% vs 19.0%, P = .042). Ventilator-associated event rate was also lower in posteducation subjects compared with preeducation subjects (2.5/1000 vs 9.8/1000 ventilator days). There were no significant differences among the groups with respect to ICU mortality.

CONCLUSION

The educational intervention performed in this study not only increased the adherence to the ventilator care bundle but also led to a significant reduction in the rate of the VAEs in patients receiving mechanical ventilator support in the ICU.

What nursing sensitive outcomes have been studied to-date among patients cared for in intensive care units? Findings from a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Although many studies have considered mortality and adverse effects as outcomes sensitive to nursing practice, it seems that other outcomes of nursing care in intensive care units have been explored less commonly.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the state-of-science in research in the field of nursing sensitive outcomes in intensive care units and to synthesize outcomes that have been documented to date as being influenced by nursing care.

DESIGN

A scoping review study based on the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, further refined by the Levac and Joanna Briggs Institute was performed in 2019.

DATA SOURCES

The Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched. In addition, the reference list of included articles was screened.

REVIEW METHODS

Two researchers independently identified publications on the basis of the following criteria: (a) articles that reported nursing sensitive outcomes on critically-ill adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit, (b) as primary and secondary studies, (c) written in English, and (d) without any time frame limitation.

RESULTS

Of the 4,231 records, 112 fully met the inclusion criteria and were included. Publications were mainly authored in the US and Canada (n = 44, 39.2%), and the majority (n = 62, 55.3%) had an observational design. A total of 233 nursing sensitive outcomes emerged, categorized in 35 outcomes, with, on average, two per study included. The most often measured outcomes were pressure ulcers (20 studies) and ventilator-associated pneumonias (19 studies); the less studied outcomes were quality of life, secretion clearance, patient-ventilator dysynchrony, and post-extubation dysphagia. When categorizing outcomes, the ones concerning safety (n = 77, 33.1%) were represented the most, followed by those concerning the clinical (n = 72, 30.9%), functional (n = 70, 30.0%), and perceptual (n = 14, 6.0%) domains. The interdependent outcomes linked to multi-professional interventions (e.g., ventilator-associated pneumonias) were the most frequently studied nursing sensitive outcomes (n = 20, 57.1%), while independent outcomes resulting from autonomous interventions performed by nurses were less often studied (n = 8, 22.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

From a clinical point of view, a large heterogeneity of outcomes influenced by nursing care emerged. However, identified outcomes have been studied with different approaches and metrics, so that future efforts will need to establish homogeneous conceptual and operative definitions. Moreover, increasing efforts in establishing perceptual outcomes, or those close to the fundamentals of nursing care, are suggested in order to better depict the contribution of critical care nurses in the field.

Implementation of an experiential learning strategy to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill adult patients

Objective

We evaluated the impact of an experiential learning strategy on both the adherence to the use of bundles and the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill adult patients.

Methods

Longitudinal, quasi-experimental interrupted time-series study in a tertiary teaching hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Successive measurements were made before and after the intervention was implemented between January 2016 and December 2018. Our main exposure was experiential learning, which was based on a combination of play activities, simulation models, knowledge and attitude competencies, role-playing and feedback. The adherence to the bundle for the care of mechanically ventilated critically-ill adult patients and the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia were the main outcomes of interest. We used generalized linear models including time as a linear spline to estimate the effect of the experiential learning strategy both on the adherence to the bundle of care and the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia during long-term follow-up.

Results

The overall proportion of adequate bundle use before and after the implementation of the intervention was 60.8% (95% CI: 56.9-64.7) and 85.6% (95% CI: 81.2-90.1), respectively. The incidence rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia before and after the intervention was 6.11 (95% CI: 5.82-6.40) and 3.55 (95% CI: 2.96-4.14) every 1000 days of mechanical ventilation, respectively. The estimated baseline monthly change in the adherence to the mechanical ventilation bundle was 0.4% (95%CI: -0.3-1.2%, p = 0.31) and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.2-2.2%, p < 0.01) before and after the implementation of the intervention, respectively. These results were consistent across our statistical quality control analysis.

Conclusions

The implementation of experiential learning strategies improves the adherence to bundles in the care of mechanically ventilated critically ill adult patients. Such strategies also decrease the incidence rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Both effects appear to remain constant during long-term follow-up.

Ventilator Bundle and Its Effects on Mortality Among ICU Patients: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of the ventilator bundle in the reduction of mortality in ICU patients.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library for studies published until June 2017.

STUDY SELECTION

Included studies: randomized controlled trials or any kind of nonrandomized intervention studies, made reference to a ventilator bundle approach, assessed mortality in ICU-ventilated adult patients.

DATA EXTRACTION

Items extracted: study characteristics, description of the bundle approach, number of patients in the comparison groups, hospital/ICU mortality, ventilator-associated pneumonia-related mortality, assessment of compliance to ventilator bundle and its score.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirteen articles were included. The implementation of a ventilator bundle significantly reduced mortality (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.97), with a stronger effect with a restriction to studies that reported mortality in ventilator-associated pneumonia patients (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52-0.97), to studies that provided active educational activities was analyzed (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99), and when the role of care procedures within the bundle (odds ratio, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99). No survival benefit was associated with compliance to ventilator bundles. However, these results may have been confounded by the differential implementation of evidence-based procedures at baseline, which showed improved survival in the study subgroup that did not report implementation of these procedures at baseline (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70-0.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Simple interventions in common clinical practice applied in a coordinated way as a part of a bundle care are effective in reducing mortality in ventilated ICU patients. More prospective controlled studies are needed to define the effect of ventilator bundles on survival outcomes.

Effectiveness of a Ventilator Care Bundle to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia at the PICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is one of the most frequent hospital-acquired infections in mechanically ventilated children. We reviewed the literature on the effectiveness of ventilator care bundles in critically ill children.

DATA SOURCES

Embase, Medline OvidSP, Web-of-Science, Cochrane Library, and PubMed were searched from January 1990 until April 2017.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if they met the following criteria: 1) implementation of a ventilator care bundle in PICU setting; 2) quality improvement or multicomponent approach with the (primary) objective to lower the ventilator-associated pneumonia rate (expressed as ventilator-associated pneumonia episodes/1,000 ventilator days); and 3) made a comparison, for example, with or without ventilator care bundle, using an experimental randomized or nonrandomized study design, or an interrupted-times series. Exclusion criteria were (systematic) reviews, guidelines, descriptive studies, editorials, or poster publications.

DATA EXTRACTION

The following data were collected from each study: design, setting, patient characteristics (if available), number of ventilator-associated pneumonia per 1,000 ventilator days, ventilator-associated pneumonia definitions used, elements of the ventilator care bundle, and implementation strategy. Ambiguities about data extraction were resolved after discussion and consulting a third reviewer (M.N., E.I.) when necessary. We quantitatively pooled the results of individual studies, where suitable. The primary outcome, reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia per 1,000 ventilator days, was expressed as an incidence risk ratio with a 95% CI. All data for meta-analysis were pooled by using a DerSimonian and Laird random effect model.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Eleven articles were included. The median ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence decreased from 9.8 (interquartile range, 5.8-18.5) per 1,000 ventilator days to 4.6 (interquartile range, 1.2-8.6) per 1,000 ventilator days after implementation of a ventilator care bundle. The meta-analysis showed that the implementation of a ventilator care bundle resulted in significantly reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia incidences (incidence risk ratio = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33-0.60; p < 0.0001; I = 55%).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a ventilator-associated pneumonia bundle has the potential to reduce the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in mechanically ventilated children.

Ventilator Bundle Compliance and Risk of Ventilator-Associated Events

OBJECTIVE

Ventilator bundles encompass practices that reduce the risk of ventilator complications, including ventilator-associated pneumonia. The impact of ventilator bundles on the risk of developing ventilator-associated events (VAEs) is unknown. We sought to determine whether decreased compliance to the ventilator bundle increases the risk for VAE development.

DESIGN

Nested case-control study.

SETTING

This study was conducted at 6 adult intensive care units at an academic tertiary-care center in Tennessee.

PATIENTS

In total, 273 patients with VAEs were randomly matched in a 1:4 ratio to controls by mechanical ventilation duration and ICU type.

METHODS

Controls were selected from the primary study population at risk for a VAE after being mechanically ventilated for the same number of days as a specified case. Using conditional logistic regression analysis, overall cumulative compliance, and compliance with individual components of the bundle in the 3 and 7 days prior to VAE development (or the control match day) were examined.

RESULTS

Overall bundle compliance at 3 days (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; P=.34) and 7 days prior to VAE diagnosis (OR, 0.96; P=.83) were not associated with VAE development. This finding did not change when limiting the outcome to infection-related ventilator-associated complications (IVACs) and after adjusting for age and gender. In the examination of compliance with specific bundle components increased compliance with chlorhexidine oral care was associated with increased risk of VAE development in all analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Ventilator bundle compliance was not associated with a reduced risk for VAEs. Higher compliance with chlorhexidine oral care was associated with a greater risk for VAE development.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:637–643

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention Bundle Significantly Reduces the Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Critically Ill Burn Patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality for critically ill burn patients. Prevention of VAP through bundled preventative measures may reduce the risk and incidence of VAP in burn patients. A retrospective chart review was performed of all mechanically ventilated adult (age ≥ 18 years) burn patients before and after VAP prevention bundle implementation. Data collected included age, TBSA, gender, diagnosis of inhalation injury, mechanism of injury, comorbid illnesses, length of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, development of VAP, discharge disposition, and mortality. Burn patients with VAP had larger burn injuries (47.6 ± 22.2 vs 23.9 ± 23.01), more inhalation injuries (44.6% vs 27%), prolonged mechanical ventilation, and longer intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays. Mortality was also higher in burn patients who developed VAP (34% vs 19%). On multivariate regression analysis, TBSA and ventilator days were independent risk factors for VAP. In 2010, a VAP prevention bundle was implemented in the burn ICU and overseen by a nurse champion. Compliance with bundle implementation was more than 95%. By 2012, independent of age, TBSA, inhalation injury, ventilator days, ICU and hospital length of stay, VAP prevention bundles resulted in a significantly reduced risk of developing VAP (odds ratio of 0.15). Burn patients with an inhalation injury and a large burn injury are at increased risk of developing VAP. The incidence and risk of VAP can be significantly reduced in burn patients with VAP prevention bundles.

Nursing workload and adherence to non-pharmacological measures in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. A pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To analyse whether adherence to non-pharmacological measures in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is associated with nursing workload.

METHODS

A prospective observational study performed in a single medical-surgical ICU. Nurses in charge of patients under ventilator support were assessed.

VARIABLES

knowledge questionnaire, application of non-pharmacological VAP prevention measures, and workload (Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score). Phases: 1) the nurses carried out a educational programme, consisting of 60-minute lectures on non-pharmacological measures for VAP prevention, and at the end completed a questionnaire knowledge; 2) observation period; 3) knowledge questionnaire.

RESULTS

Among 67 ICU-staff nurses, 54 completed the educational programme and were observed. A total of 160 observations of 49 nurses were made. Adequate knowledge was confirmed in both the initial and final questionnaires. Application of preventive measures ranged from 11% for hand washing pre-aspiration to 97% for the use of a sterile aspiration probe. The Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score was 50±13. No significant differences were observed between the association of the nurses' knowledge and the application of preventive measures or between workload and the application of preventive measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses' knowledge of VAP prevention measures is not necessarily applied in daily practice. Failure to follow these measures is not subject to lack of knowledge or to increased workload, but presumably to contextual factors.

Management of Respiratory Failure

The management of acute respiratory failure varies according to the etiology. A clear understanding of physiology of respiration and pathophysiological mechanisms of respiratory failure is mandatory for managing these patients. The extent of abnormality in arterial blood gas values is a result of the balance between the severity of disease and the degree of compensation by cardiopulmonary system. Normal blood gases do not mean that there is an absence of disease because the homeostatic system can compensate. However, an abnormal arterial blood gas value reflects uncompensated disease that might be life threatening.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia rates in critical care units in 3 Arabian Gulf countries: A 6-year surveillance study

BACKGROUND

Data estimating the rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critical patients in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are very limited. The aim of this study was to estimate VAP rates in GCC hospitals and to compare rates with published reports of the U.S. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

METHODS

VAP rates and ventilator utilization between 2008 and 2013 were calculated from aggregate VAP surveillance data using NHSN methodology pooled from 6 hospitals in 3 GCC countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain. The standardized infection ratios of VAP in GCC hospitals were compared with published reports of the NHSN and INICC.

RESULTS

A total of 368 VAP events were diagnosed during a 6-year period covering 76,749 ventilator days and 134,994 patient days. The overall VAP rate was 4.8 per 1,000 ventilator days (95% confidence interval, 4.3-5.3), with an overall ventilator utilization of 0.57. The VAP rates showed a wide variability between different types of intensive care units (ICUs) and were decreasing over time. After adjusting for the differences in ICU type, the risk of VAP in GCC hospitals was 217% higher than NHSN hospitals and 69% lower than INICC hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of VAP in ICU patients in GCC countries is higher than pooled U.S. VAP rates but lower than pooled rates from developing countries participating in the INICC.

What are effective strategies for the implementation of care bundles on ICUs: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Care bundles have proven to be effective in improving clinical outcomes. It is not known which strategies are the most effective to implement care bundles. A systematic review was conducted to determine the strategies used to implement care bundles in adult intensive care units and to assess the effects of these strategies when implementing bundles.

METHODS

The databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Ovid/Embase, CINAHL and CENTRAL were searched for eligible studies until January 31, 2015. Studies with (non)randomised designs on central line, ventilator or sepsis bundles were included if implementation strategies and bundle compliance were reported. Methodological quality was assessed by using the Downs and Black checklist. Data extraction and quality assessments were independently performed by two reviewers.

RESULTS

In total, 1533 records were screened and 47 studies were finally included. In 49 %, pre/post designs were used, 38 % prospective cohorts, and the remaining studies used retrospective designs (6 %), interrupted time series (4 %) and longitudinal designs (2 %). The methodological quality was classified as 'fair' in 77 %, and the remaining as 'good' (13 %) and 'poor' (11 %). The most frequently used strategies were education (86 %), reminders (71 %) and audit and feedback (63 %). Our results show that compliance is influenced by multiple factors, i.e. types and numbers of elements varied and different compliance measurements were reported. Furthermore, compliance was calculated within different time frames. Also, detailed information about compliance, such as numerators and denominators, was not reported. Therefore, recalculation of consistent monthly compliance levels was not possible.

CONCLUSIONS

The three most frequently used strategies were education, reminders and audit and feedback. We conclude that the heterogeneity among the included studies was high due to the variety in study designs, number and types of elements and types of compliance measurements. Due to the heterogeneity of the data and the poor quality of the studies, conclusions about which strategy results in the highest levels of bundle compliance could not be determined. We strongly recommend that studies in quality improvement should be reported in a formalised way in order to be able to compare research findings. It is imperative that authors follow the standards for quality improvement reporting excellence (SQUIRE) guidelines whenever they report quality improvement studies.

Sustained Reduction of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Rates Using Real-Time Course Correction With a Ventilator Bundle Compliance Dashboard

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of practice bundles on reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has been questioned.

OBJECTIVE

To implement a comprehensive program that included a real-time bundle compliance dashboard to improve compliance and reduce ventilator-associated complications. DESIGN Before-and-after quasi-experimental study with interrupted time-series analysis. SETTING Academic medical center.

METHODS

In 2007 a comprehensive institutional ventilator bundle program was developed. To assess bundle compliance and stimulate instant course correction of noncompliant parameters, a real-time computerized dashboard was developed. Program impact in 6 adult intensive care units (ICUs) was assessed. Bundle compliance was noted as an overall cumulative bundle adherence assessment, reflecting the percentage of time all elements were concurrently in compliance for all patients.

RESULTS

The VAP rate in all ICUs combined decreased from 19.5 to 9.2 VAPs per 1,000 ventilator-days following program implementation (P<.001). Bundle compliance significantly increased (Z100 score of 23% in August 2007 to 83% in June 2011 [P<.001]). The implementation resulted in a significant monthly decrease in the overall ICU VAP rate of 3.28/1,000 ventilator-days (95% CI, 2.64-3.92/1,000 ventilator-days). Following the intervention, the VAP rate decreased significantly at a rate of 0.20/1,000 ventilator-days per month (95% CI, 0.14-0.30/1,000 ventilator-days per month). Among all adult ICUs combined, improved bundle compliance was moderately correlated with monthly VAP rate reductions (Pearson correlation coefficient, -0.32).

CONCLUSION

A prevention program using a real-time bundle adherence dashboard was associated with significant sustained decreases in VAP rates and an increase in bundle compliance among adult ICU patients.

Tracking and sustaining improvement initiatives: leveraging quality dashboards to lead change in a neurosurgical department

Increasingly, hospitals and physicians are becoming acquainted with business intelligence strategies and tools to improve quality of care. In 2007, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of Neurosurgery created a quality dashboard to help manage process measures and outcomes and ultimately to enhance clinical performance and patient care. At that time, the dashboard was in a platform that required data to be entered manually. It was then reviewed monthly to allow the department to make informed decisions. In 2009, the department leadership worked with the UCLA Medical Center to align mutual quality-improvement priorities. The content of the dashboard was redesigned to include 3 areas of priorities: quality and safety, patient satisfaction, and efficiency and use. Throughout time, the neurosurgery quality dashboard has been recognized for its clarity and its success in helping management direct improvement strategies and monitor impact. We describe the creation and design of the neurosurgery quality dashboard at UCLA, summarize the evolution of its assembly process, and illustrate how it can be used as a powerful tool of improvement and change. The potential challenges and future directions of this business intelligence tool are also discussed.

Association of compliance of ventilator bundle with incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and ventilator utilization among critical patients over 4 years

BACKGROUND:

Several studies showed that the implementation of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) ventilator bundle alone or with other preventive measures are associated with reducing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) rates. However, the association with ventilator utilization was rarely examined and the findings were conflicting. The objectives were to validate the bundle association with VAP rate in a traditionally high VAP environment and to examine its association with ventilator utilization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study was conducted at the adult medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia, between 2010 and 2013. VAP data were collected by a prospective targeted surveillance as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methodology while bundle data were collected by a cross-sectional design as per IHI methodology.

RESULTS:

Ventilator bundle compliance significantly increased from 90% in 2010 to 97% in 2013 (P for trend < 0.001). On the other hand, VAP rate decreased from 3.6 (per 1000 ventilator days) in 2010 to 1.0 in 2013 (P for trend = 0.054) and ventilator utilization ratio decreased from 0.73 in 2010 to 0.59 in 2013 (P for trend < 0.001). There were negative significant correlations between the trends of ventilator bundle compliance and VAP rate (cross-correlation coefficients −0.63 to 0.07) and ventilator utilization (cross-correlation coefficients −0.18 to −0.63).

CONCLUSION:

More than 70% improvement of VAP rates and approximately 20% improvement of ventilator utilization were observed during IHI ventilator bundle implementation among adult critical patients in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. Replicating the current finding in multicenter randomized trials is required before establishing any causal link.

Using a virtual breakthrough series collaborative to reduce postoperative respiratory failure in 16 Veterans Health Administration hospitals

BACKGROUND

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Virtual Breakthrough Series (VBTS) process was used in an eight-month (June 2011-January 2012) quality improvement (QI) project to improve care related to reducing postoperative respiratory failure. The VBTS collaborative drew on Patient Safety Indicator 11: Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate to guide changes in care at the bedside.

METHODS

Sixteen Veterans Health Administration hospitals, each representing a regional Veterans Integrated Service Network, participated in the QI project. During the prework phase (initial two months), hospitals formed multidisciplinary teams, selected measures related to their goals, and collected baseline data. The six-month action phase included group conference calls in which the faculty presented clinical background on the topic, discussed evidence-based processes of care, and/or presented content regarding reducing postoperative respiratory failure. During a final, six-month continuous improvement and spread phase, teams were to continue implementing changes as part of their usual processes.

RESULTS

The six most commonly reported interventions to reduce postoperative respiratory failure focused on improving incentive spirometer use, documenting implementation of targeted interventions, oral care, standardized orders, early ambulation, and provider education. A few teams reported reduced ICU readmissions for respiratory failure.

CONCLUSIONS

The VBTS collaborative helped teams implement process changes to help reduce postoperative respiratory complications. Teams reported initial success at implementing site-specific improvements using real-time data. The VBTS model shows promise for knowledge sharing and efficient multifacility improvement efforts, although long-term sustainability and testing in these and other settings need to be examined.

Effectiveness of an outpatient preoperative care bundle in preventing postoperative pneumonia among esophageal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

This historical case-control study examined the effectiveness of an outpatient preoperative care bundle on the incidence of postoperative pneumonia among patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

We implemented a preoperative care bundle that comprised 7 care procedures that previous studies had suggested to be effective for decreasing postoperative respiratory complications, infections, postoperative hospital stay, and mortality. The care bundle group included patients who underwent surgery after the care bundle was implemented, whereas the control group included those who underwent surgery before its implementation.

RESULTS

The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 3.8% in the care bundle group (1/26) and 22.4% in the control group (48/214). A logistic regression model showed that implementation of the care bundle had a significant effect on prevention of postoperative pneumonia (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval: 0.01-0.94) after controlling the following confounding factors: sex, blood urea nitrogen, amount of blood loss, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and preoperative hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the procedures of the preoperative care bundle was shown to be effective for preventing postoperative pneumonia in patients with esophageal cancer.

Health care-associated infections in the neonatal intensive care unit: barriers to continued success

Health care-associated infections often result in significant morbidity and mortality to affected patients and substantial financial cost to an overburdened health care system. Local, statewide, and national efforts have been conducted to eradicate central line-associated infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and urinary tract infections from inpatient and outpatient facilities. In the neonatal intensive care unit population, significant improvements have been made in many areas, but have been hindered in others by a lack of population-specific definitions, data, and guidelines for prevention and management. Therefore, more concerted efforts are needed in these areas for continued progress to occur.

An Objective Study of the Impact of the Electronic Medical Record on Outcomes in Trauma Patients

It is commonly believed that the electronic medical record (EMR) will improve patient outcomes. However, there is scant published literature to support this claim and no studies in any surgical population. Our hypothesis was that the EMR would not improve objective outcome measures in patients with traumatic injury. Prospectively collected data from our university-based Level I trauma center was retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, injury severity as well as outcomes and complications data were compared for all patients admitted over a 20-month period before introduction of the EMR and a 20-month period after full, hospital-wide use of the EMR. Implementation of the EMR was associated with a decreased hospital length of stay, P = 0.02; intensive care unit length of stay, P = 0.001; ventilator days, P = 0.002; acute respiratory distress syndrome, P = 0.006, pneumonia, P = 0.008; myocardial infarction, P = 0.001; line infection, P = 0.03; septicemia, P = 0.000; renal failure, P = 0.000; drug complication, P = 0.001; and delay in diagnosis, P = 0.04. There was no difference in mortality, unexpected cardiac arrest, missed injury, pulmonary embolism/deep vein thrombosis, or late urinary tract infection. This is the first study to investigate the impact of the EMR in surgical patients. Although there was an improvement in some complications, the overall impact was inconsistent.

Community-acquired, health care-associated, and ventilator-associated pneumonia: three variations of a serious disease

Pneumonia affects millions of people every year in the United States. Hospital-acquired pneumonia is associated with a mortality rate as high as 50%. Pneumonia is classified according to where it was acquired or by the infecting organism. This article explores the similarities and differences in three types of pneumonia seen routinely in the intensive care unit: community-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and health care-associated pneumonia.

Effect of feedback on ventilator care bundle compliance: before and after study

BACKGROUND

Care bundles cluster together several evidence-based practices and, in the intensive care setting, the ventilator care bundle (VCB) has been applied widely.

AIM

To determine the effect of monthly feedback on VCB compliance.

DESIGN

Before and after study: primary outcome measure VCB compliance.

METHODS

Data were collected for 1 year from two metropolitan general intensive care units (ICU) on one randomly allocated day per week. Baseline data from adult ventilated patients were collected during the first 6 months (phase 1). During the second 6 months (phase 2), monthly compliance data were provided to each ICU regarding both ICUs' performance.

RESULTS

Both 'all or nothing' compliance (when all four VCB elements were complied with) and overall compliance (the average compliance of the four elements) increased between the two phases. These increases were mostly small and statistically insignificant. Although both measures increased in ICU B, both fell in ICU A. ICU B's overall compliance increase was statistically significant (p = 0·005), but its 'all or nothing' compliance increase (19%), whilst arguably clinically significant, did not reach statistical significance. ICU B achieved increased compliance with all four VCB elements in phase 2, whereas ICU A achieved increases in two elements (deep vein thrombosis and gastric ulcer prophylaxis). Both ICUs achieved 100% compliance with gastric ulcer prophylaxis for all of phase 2. Head of bed elevation was the least complied with element in phase 1, and increased in ICU B only in phase 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the compliance rates with individual elements are encouraging, the results regarding the effect of feedback on VCB compliance were variable. The finding of relatively poor compliance with head of bed elevation is consistent with previous research.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Further research is needed to determine the effects of audit and feedback, and which strategies are most effective.