Quality assessment of adult intensive care services: application of a tool adjusted to the reality of low-income countries

The Association Between Prepandemic ICU Performance and Mortality Variation in COVID-19: A Multicenter Cohort Study of 35,619 Critically Ill Patients

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ICUs remained under stress and observed elevated mortality rates and high variations of outcomes. A knowledge gap exists regarding whether an ICU performing best during nonpandemic times would still perform better when under high pressure compared with the least performing ICUs.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does prepandemic ICU performance explain the risk-adjusted mortality variability for critically ill patients with COVID-19?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This study examined a cohort of adults with real-time polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to 156 ICUs in 35 hospitals from February 16, 2020, through December 31, 2021, in Brazil. We evaluated crude and adjusted in-hospital mortality variability of patients with COVID-19 in the ICU during the pandemic. Association of baseline (prepandemic) ICU performance and in-hospital mortality was examined using a variable life-adjusted display (VLAD) during the pandemic and a multivariable mixed regression model adjusted by clinical characteristics, interaction of performance with the year of admission, and mechanical ventilation at admission.

RESULTS

Thirty-five thousand six hundred nineteen patients with confirmed COVID-19 were evaluated. The median age was 52 years, median Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 was 42, and 18% underwent invasive mechanical ventilation. In-hospital mortality was 13% and 54% for those receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Adjusted in-hospital mortality ranged from 3.6% to 63.2%. VLAD in the most efficient ICUs was higher than the overall median in 18% of weeks, whereas VLAD was 62% and 84% in the underachieving and least efficient groups, respectively. The least efficient baseline ICU performance group was associated independently with increased mortality (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.45-3.62) after adjusting for patient characteristics, disease severity, and pandemic surge.

INTERPRETATION

ICUs caring for patients with COVID-19 presented substantial variation in risk-adjusted mortality. ICUs with better baseline (prepandemic) performance showed reduced mortality and less variability. Our findings suggest that achieving ICU efficiency by targeting improvement in organizational aspects of ICUs may impact outcomes, and therefore should be a part of the preparedness for future pandemics.

Management Actions for Prevention and Control of Healthcare-associated Infections: A Grounded Theory approach

AIM

To understand the management actions for prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections performed by health professionals.

BACKGROUND

Prevention of nosocomial infections has evidence-based practice at its essence, but not all institutions are successful in implementing prevention methodology.

METHODS

Qualitative research with Grounded Theory methodological framework. The research was carried out in two southern Brazilian hospitals. Data collected was employed through open interviews with twenty-one health professionals and managers. This process occurred concurrently with the data analysis, through constant comparative analysis.

RESULTS

The understanding of the co-responsibility of managerial actions emerged as a central phenomenon of the theoretical model. Management actions for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections are a collective phenomenon, in which co-responsibility sustains the effectiveness of the offered assistance. The behaviors of health teams in the face of structural and human weaknesses influence the construction of a supportive relationship in the effectiveness of patient safety actions.

CONCLUSIONS

The sharing of responsibilities between professionals, and the actions of prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections arising from this conduct, positively influence the promotion of safer and improved quality care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing managers should consider applying the tools to prevent and control HAIs and generate in-depth discussion to promote institution's cultural changes.