Impact of a five-year surveillance of central venous catheter infections in the REACAT intensive care unit network in France

A scoping review of registry captured indicators for evaluating quality of critical care in ICU

BACKGROUND

Excess morbidity and mortality following critical illness is increasingly attributed to potentially avoidable complications occurring as a result of complex ICU management (Berenholtz et al., J Crit Care 17:1-2, 2002; De Vos et al., J Crit Care 22:267-74, 2007; Zimmerman J Crit Care 1:12-5, 2002). Routine measurement of quality indicators (QIs) through an Electronic Health Record (EHR) or registries are increasingly used to benchmark care and evaluate improvement interventions. However, existing indicators of quality for intensive care are derived almost exclusively from relatively narrow subsets of ICU patients from high-income healthcare systems. The aim of this scoping review is to systematically review the literature on QIs for evaluating critical care, identify QIs, map their definitions, evidence base, and describe the variances in measurement, and both the reported advantages and challenges of implementation.

METHOD

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane libraries from the earliest available date through to January 2019. To increase the sensitivity of the search, grey literature and reference lists were reviewed. Minimum inclusion criteria were a description of one or more QIs designed to evaluate care for patients in ICU captured through a registry platform or EHR adapted for quality of care surveillance.

RESULTS

The search identified 4780 citations. Review of abstracts led to retrieval of 276 full-text articles, of which 123 articles were accepted. Fifty-one unique QIs in ICU were classified using the three components of health care quality proposed by the High Quality Health Systems (HQSS) framework. Adverse events including hospital acquired infections (13.7%), hospital processes (54.9%), and outcomes (31.4%) were the most common QIs identified. Patient reported outcome QIs accounted for less than 6%. Barriers to the implementation of QIs were described in 35.7% of articles and divided into operational barriers (51%) and acceptability barriers (49%).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the complexity and risk associated with ICU care, there are only a small number of operational indicators used. Future selection of QIs would benefit from a stakeholder-driven approach, whereby the values of patients and communities and the priorities for actionable improvement as perceived by healthcare providers are prioritized and include greater focus on measuring discriminable processes of care.

Complication and Failures of Central Vascular Access Device in Adult Critical Care Settings

OBJECTIVES

To examine the proportion and rate of central venous access device failure and complications across central venous access device types in adult intensive care.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was undertaken in the electronic databases Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health in September 2017.

STUDY SELECTION

Included studies were of observational (prospective and retrospective) or interventional design and reported central venous access device failure and complications in adult ICU settings. Studies were excluded if they were published prior to November 2006 or not reported in English. Two reviewers independently screened articles, assessed eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted on the primary outcome, central venous access device failure, and secondary outcomes: central venous access device complications (central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-related bloodstream infection, catheter-related thrombosis, occlusion, catheter removal due to suspected infection, dislodgement, breakage, and local infection). Patient and device data and study details to assess the study quality were also extracted.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 63 studies involving 50,000 central venous access devices (396,951 catheter days) were included. Central venous access device failure was 5% (95% CI, 3-6%), with the highest rates and proportion of failure in hemodialysis catheters. Overall central line-associated bloodstream infection rate was 4.59 per 1,000 catheter days (95% CI, 2.31-6.86), with the highest rate in nontunneled central venous access devices. Removal of central venous access device due to suspected infection was high (17%; 20.4 per 1,000 catheter days; 95% CI, 15.7-25.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Central venous access device complications and device failure is a prevalent and significant problem in the adult ICU, leading to substantial patient harm and increased healthcare costs. The high proportion of central venous access devices removed due to suspicion of infection, despite low overall central line-associated bloodstream infection and catheter-related bloodstream infection rates, indicates a need for robust practice guidelines to inform decision-making surrounding removal of central venous access devices suspected of infection.

Effect of a surveillance system for decreasing neonatal nosocomial infections

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial infection in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants is a common complication with high morbimortality. New strategies to reduce its occurrence have recently led to the development of neonatal surveillance programs.

AIMS

To determine whether the NeoKissEs surveillance system implementation in our neonatal unit has been associated with a decrease in nosocomial infection in VLBW infants, as well as a reduction in the use of antibiotics and central venous catheters (CVC).

STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Retrospective and descriptive study of infants <1500 g admitted between January 2011 and December 2017. Rates of use of antibiotics and CVC were calculated, as well as late-onset sepsis incidence. Data were compared before and after the surveillance system implementation.

RESULTS

299 patients were recruited. We excluded seven patients, who died <72 h. Of the remainder (n = 292), 149 were in the pre-intervention period and 143 in the post-intervention period. We found a significant decrease in the incidence density of sepsis comparing these two periods (5.98 vs. 4.08) (p = 0.03). Although no differences in antibiotic and CVC rates of use between both groups were found, a significant decrease in antibiotic use was observed comparing the first and last year of the intervention (38% vs. 24%) (p = 0.03). A higher percentage of breastfed infants was observed (39% vs. 59%) (p = 0.001) in the post-intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

Surveillance systems are useful to reduce nosocomial infection in VLBW infants. Reduction in antibiotic and CVC use requires longer intervention time. Promotion of breastfeeding seems to be a very effective associated strategy.

Challenges with Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Intensive Care Units in South Africa

Background

The incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the public health sector in South Africa is not known due to the lack of a surveillance system. We report on the challenges experienced in the implementation of a surveillance system for HAIs in intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods

A passive, paper-based surveillance system was piloted in eight ICUs to measure the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infection, and central line-associated bloodstream infection. Extensive consultation with the ICU clinical and nursing managers informed the development of the surveillance system. The Plan-Do-Study-Act method was utilized to guide the implementation of the surveillance.

Results

The intended outputs of the surveillance system were not fully realized due to incomplete data. The organizational culture did not promote the collection of surveillance data. Nurses felt that the surveillance form added to their workload, and the infection control practitioners were unable to adequately supervise the process due to competing work demands.

Conclusions

A manual system that adds to the administrative workload of nurses is not an effective method of measuring the burden of HAIs. Change management is required to promote an organizational culture that supports accurate data collection for HAIs.

Impact of nosocomial infections surveillance on nosocomial infection rates: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

According to previously studies, nosocomial infections (NIs) surveillance could effectively reduce infection rates. As NIs surveillance systems have been implemented in some hospitals for several years, their impact on NIs need to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to evaluate the tendency of NI rates during the surveillance period and the impact of surveillance on NI rates.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of the PubMed database to identify papers that evaluated effect of surveillance on NIs, all kinds of NIs occurred during hospitalization or discharged were included. Exclude articles investigated the surveillance combined with other infection control measures.

RESULTS

Twenty-five articles were included. NI rates had different levels of reduction during surveillance period, the reduction were not limited by state, department, surveillance system, and NI type. Continuous surveillance had a positive impact on NI, OR/RR were ranged from 0.43 to 0.95.

CONCLUSION

Participation in NI surveillance is associated with reducing infection rates, though RCTs need to further prove the effective role of surveillance. Hospitals may consider to perform NIs surveillance systems according to its own conditions.

Core components for effective infection prevention and control programmes: new WHO evidence-based recommendations

Health care-associated infections (HAI) are a major public health problem with a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. They represent also an important economic burden to health systems worldwide. However, a large proportion of HAI are preventable through effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. Improvements in IPC at the national and facility level are critical for the successful containment of antimicrobial resistance and the prevention of HAI, including outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases through high quality care within the context of universal health coverage. Given the limited availability of IPC evidence-based guidance and standards, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to prioritize the development of global recommendations on the core components of effective IPC programmes both at the national and acute health care facility level, based on systematic literature reviews and expert consensus. The aim of the guideline development process was to identify the evidence and evaluate its quality, consider patient values and preferences, resource implications, and the feasibility and acceptability of the recommendations. As a result, 11 recommendations and three good practice statements are presented here, including a summary of the supporting evidence, and form the substance of a new WHO IPC guideline.

Sustained low incidence of central venous catheter-related infections over six years in a Swedish hospital with an active central venous catheter team

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on the long-term effects of implementing a central venous catheter (CVC) program for prevention of CVC infections. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of CVC colonization, catheter-related infections (CRI), catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), and their risk factors over a 6-year period in a hospital with an active CVC team.

METHODS

We conducted a continuous prospective study aiming to include all CVCs used at our hospital during the years 2004 to 2009, evaluating colonization, CRI, CRBSI, and possible risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 2,772 CVCs was used during the study period. Data on culture results and catheterization time were available for 2,045 CVCs used in 1,674 patients. The incidences of colonization, CRI, and CRBSI were 7.0, 2.2, and 0.6 per 1,000 CVC-days, respectively. Analysis of quarterly incidences revealed 1 occasion with increasing infection rates. Catheterization time was a risk factor for CRI but not for CRBSI. Other risk factors for CRI were hemodialysis and CVC use in the internal jugular vein compared with the subclavian vein. Hemodialysis was the only risk factor for CRBSI.

CONCLUSION

We found that a CRI prevention program led by an active CVC team and adhered to by the entire staff at a county hospital is successful in keeping CVC infections at a low rate over a long period of time.

Risk factors for catheter-related bloodstream infections in adult hospitalized patients - multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Risk factors for catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) may change over time with progress in infection control. This study was undertaken to explore the current risk factors for CRBSIs in hospitalized patients.

METHODS

Adult patients with non-tunneled central venous catheters (CVCs) in 12 Japanese referral hospitals were prospectively enrolled between December 2009 and January 2012. Patients were monitored for CRBSIs for up to 8 weeks from CVC insertion; data were collected regarding patient characteristics, the purpose of CVC insertion, insertion methods, mechanical complications during insertion, and post-insertion catheter care.

RESULTS

A total of 892 patients were enrolled in this study. The overall incidence of CRBSIs was 0.40 infections per 1000 catheter-days. Univariate analysis using the Fisher's exact test identified one of the participating hospitals (hospital A; p < 0.001), internal jugular vein catheterization (IJVC) (p = 0.0013), not using maximal sterile barrier precautions (p = 0.030), and the Seldinger technique for catheter insertion (p = 0.025) as significant risk factors for CRBSI. After excluding data from hospital A, only IJVC remained a significant risk factor for CRBSI (p = 0.025). The cumulative probability of remaining without CRBSI was significantly lower in patients with IJVCs than in patients with other catheter routes (p < 0.001; log-rank test). Similarly, the cumulative probability of remaining without catheter removal due to a suspected infection was significantly lower in patients with IJVCs (p = 0.034; log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study suggests that IJVC might be a risk factor for CRBSI under current infection control conditions.

Clinical epidemiology of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections in an intensive care unit in China

BACKGROUND

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are universally used during the treatment of critically ill patients. Their use, however, is associated with a substantial infection risk. At present, there are few studies on catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) that are comparable with international similar research. The aim of this study was to determine the rate, risk factors, and outcomes of CRBSIs in patients of an intensive care unit (ICU) in China.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed in the Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. All patients admitted to the ICU from June 2007 to May 2008 who had a central line placed were monitored for the development of BSI from insertion until 48 hours after removal. One hundred seventy-four patients with 178 admissions to the ICU, 219 CVCs and 1913 CVC days, 21 episodes of CRBSI in 21 patients were enrolled.

RESULTS

The mean rate of CRBSI was 11.0 per 1000 CVC days with a catheter utilization rate of 72.8%. Analyses of the pathogens showed that gram-negative organisms were predominant. The univariate analysis showed that 3 things seemed to directly impact the occurrences of CRBSI. These were the number of lines insertion, the applications of antibiotics before CRBSI, and the duration of catheter. In a multiple logistic regression analysis of the risk factors, patients with multiple central lines (odds ratio = 5.981; 95% confidence intervals, 1.660-21.547; P = .006) and with the applications of multiple antibiotics before CRBSI (odds ratio = 6.335; 95% confidence interval, 2.001-20.054; P = .002) were more likely to develop CRBSI.

CONCLUSIONS

The CRBSI rate in our ICU is higher compared with that reported by the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance and was associated with the applications of antibiotics before CRBSI and with the number of placed CVCs. Catheter-related bloodstream infections may be associated with a higher mortality rate and a higher incidence of ventilator-associated pulmonitis, which might lead to an increase in the total costs and medicine expenditures.

Infectious risk associated with arterial catheters compared with central venous catheters

BACKGROUND

Scheduled replacement of central venous catheters and, by extension, arterial catheters, is not recommended because the daily risk of catheter-related infection is considered constant over time after the first catheter days. Arterial catheters are considered at lower risk for catheter-related infection than central venous catheters in the absence of conclusive evidence.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the daily risk and risk factors for colonization and catheter-related infection between arterial catheters and central venous catheters.

METHODS

We used data from a trial of seven intensive care units evaluating different dressing change intervals and a chlorhexidine-impregnated sponge. We determined the daily hazard rate and identified risk factors for colonization using a marginal Cox model for clustered data.

RESULTS

We included 3532 catheters and 27,541 catheter-days. Colonization rates did not differ between arterial catheters and central venous catheters (7.9% [11.4/1000 catheter-days] and 9.6% [11.1/1000 catheter-days], respectively). Arterial catheter and central venous catheter catheter-related infection rates were 0.68% (1.0/1000 catheter-days) and 0.94% (1.09/1000 catheter-days), respectively. The daily hazard rate for colonization increased steadily over time for arterial catheters (p = .008) but remained stable for central venous catheters. Independent risk factors for arterial catheter colonization were respiratory failure and femoral insertion. Independent risk factors for central venous catheter colonization were trauma or absence of septic shock at intensive care unit admission, femoral or jugular insertion, and absence of antibiotic treatment at central venous catheter insertion.

CONCLUSIONS

The risks of colonization and catheter-related infection did not differ between arterial catheters and central venous catheters, indicating that arterial catheter use should receive the same precautions as central venous catheter use. The daily risk was constant over time for central venous catheter after the fifth catheter day but increased significantly over time after the seventh day for arterial catheters. Randomized studies are needed to investigate the impact of scheduled arterial catheter replacement.

Device-associated infections in the intensive care units of Cyprus: results of the first national incidence study

BACKGROUND

Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) has become an integral part of infection control programs in several countries, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. In contrast, surveillance data on the epidemiology of ICU-acquired infections in Cyprus are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of ICU-acquired infections and to identify areas for improvement in Cypriot hospitals by comparing observed incidence rates with international benchmarks and by specifying the microbiological and antibiotic resistance profiles of infecting organisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An active surveillance protocol was introduced in the ICUs of the four major public hospitals in Cyprus, based on the methodology of the US National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system.

RESULTS

During February to December 2007, 2,692 patients who were hospitalized in ICUs for a mean length of stay of 5 days acquired 214 infections for an overall incidence rate of 15.8 infections per 1,000 patient-days [95% confidence interval (CI): 13.8-18.1]. Bloodstream infections, pneumonias and urinary tract infections accounted for 80.4% of all infections; of these, 87.8% were device-related. Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CL-BSI) posed the greatest risk (18.6 cases per 1,000 central line-days; 95% CI 14.9-22.9), followed by ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (6.4 cases per 1,000 ventilator-days; 95% CI 4.5-8.8) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (2.8 cases per 1,000 urinary catheter-days; 95% CI 1.9-4.1). Most frequently isolated pathogens included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.6% of all isolates), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (11.7%), Enterococcus spp. (11.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (9.2%). Overall, 29.8% of P. aeruginosa isolates were imipenem-resistant and 68.2% of S. aureus were methicillin-resistant. The crude excess mortality rate associated with ICU-acquired infections was 33.2% (95% CI 24.9-41.9%) and the mean post-infection stay in the ICUs was 21.6 days (95% CI 17.0-26.2).

CONCLUSION

In comparison to international benchmarks, the markedly high rate of CL-BSI, the high rate of VAP and the resistance patterns of major infecting pathogens identified in this study emphasize the need to improve current practices for appropriate use and management of invasive devices in Cypriot ICUs.