P015: Prevention of re-use of single-use suction catheter decreased the vap incidence density in a resource-limited adult ICU in Egypt

Suction circuit flushing with chlorhexidine decreases ventilator-associated pneumonia: a quasi-experimental study

Background

Endotracheal suctioning of mechanically ventilated patients differs across the world. In many low and middle-income countries, endotracheal suctioning is often performed with a sterile suctioning catheter that is used for 12 h or during the length of one nursing shift. The effect of flushing multiple used endotracheal suction system with chlorhexidine after suctioning to reduce ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) remains unclear.

Aim

The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of flushing multiple-used open endotracheal suction catheters and suctioning system with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% to reduce VAP in mechanically ventilated patients in a resource-limited Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Methods

Due to the difficulty of blinding the intervention for nurses who perform endo-tracheal suction procedures, we adopted a quasi-experimental method with a randomized controlled trial design. A sample of 136 ICU patients were allocated to the intervention (n = 68) or control group (n = 68) between May and November 2020. The intervention was flushing the multiple-used suction catheter and suction system with 40ml chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% and in the control group we used normal saline to flush the catheter and suction system. The primary outcome was incidence of VAP and the cost of the flushing solutions was the secondary outcome measure.

Results

Patients in the intervention group had a lower incidence of VAP compared to patients in the control group; 15 (22.1%) vs 29 (42.6%), p = 0.01. The incidence of late-onset VAP was 26.2% in the intervention group and 49% in the control group (p = 0.026) and the early-onset VAP was 13.2% in the intervention group and 25% in the control group (p = 0.081). Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% reduced the cost of suction system flushing (median: 78.4 vs 300 EGP, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Using chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% to flush multiple-used suctioning catheters after every endo-tracheal suction procedure might reduce the incidence of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients. Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% can be a cost-effective solution for flushing the suction circuit. Nurses working in resource-limited ICUs and using suctioning catheters multiple times might consider using chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% instead of normal saline or distilled water when flushing the suction system.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05206721.

Audit of Tracheostomy Care Practices in a Nigerian Tertiary Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit According to Published Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Chest infections are a frequently encountered problem in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), more so in tracheostomised patients. This study aimed to audit the tracheostomy care practices in patients with neurosurgical pathologies in the ICU of Wellington Clinics Abuja, a tertiary neurosurgical hospital in Nigeria.

METHODS

We conducted a closed-loop audit with mixed methods involving analysis of 24 patients who had tracheostomy within the first two weeks of neurosurgical pathology at a tertiary neurosurgical hospital and semi-structured interviews to determine tracheostomy care practices among the primary caregivers - nurses, intensivists, and doctors.

RESULTS

Of the 161 ICU admissions in the first cycle, 22 patients received tracheostomy, 16 met the eligibility criteria. At re-audit (second cycle), eight of 40 patients met the criteria. All the patients received open suctioning through a dual cannula-cuffed tracheostomy tube and had independent portable suction units. In the baseline audit (first cycle), suction catheters were reused for 12-24 hours in each patient and were stored in varying combinations of normal saline and Savlon antiseptic (5 mg of cetrimide (0.5% w/w) and 1 mg of chlorhexidine digluconate (0.1% w/w)). The frequency, technique, and assessment of the need for airway suctioning were inconsistent among caregivers interviewed. All 16 patients had at least one episode of pneumonia, 10 patients had a second episode, and two patients had > two episodes. One mortality was recorded directly attributable to the complications of pneumonia. While in the re-audit, with adherence to recommendations, three patients suffered one episode of pneumonia and only one had a second episode. No mortality was recorded.

CONCLUSION

A standard practice guideline was necessary for tracheostomy care in our ICU. In low-resource settings, stated recommendations such as single-use suction catheters and improved hygienic practices can reduce rates of pneumonia in tracheostomised patients.

Exposure to reprocessed single-use tracheal suction catheter and ventilator-associated pneumonia risk: A preliminary, single unit-based, matched case-control study

PURPOSE

The reuse of reprocessed single-use suction catheter for suctioning an amount of tracheal secretion among orally intubated, mechanically ventilated patients, who are at risk of acquiring ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between the repetitive use of reprocessed single-use suction catheter and VAP development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A preliminary, single unit-based investigation was designed as matched case-control study to extract data from hospital's existing 5-year VAP report and inpatients' clinical records. Cases were defined as patients, who developed VAP between December 2009 and October 2014. Controls were defined as patients, who had no evidence of VAP during study period. Six hundred eight controls were frequency matched to 152 cases in 4:1 ratio. Chart-extracted clinical data were stratified and included for conditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Analysis showed a significant association between reprocessed single-use tracheal suction catheter exposure and VAP development [odds ratio (OR), 3.64; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.47-5.35]. A statistically significant increase in VAP risk was found in male intubated patients (OR, 5.33; 95% CI, 1.22-23.3), who are older than 60 years (OR, 8.08; 95% CI, 1.47-44.3), had severe Glasgow Coma Scale scores (OR, 8.27; 95% CI, 1.83-37.3), and received mechanical ventilatory support for more than 96 hours (OR, 9.67; 95% CI, 1.98-47.1). In addition, a statistically significant increase in VAP risk was seen in intensive care unit, where reprocessed tracheal suction catheter changes were routinely provided (OR, 16.0; 95% CI, 2.40-106.7) and unsatisfactory hand hygiene percentage compliance was observed (OR, 8.40; 95% CI, 1.60-44.1). Ventilator-associated pneumonia proportion analysis revealed a higher number of unknown exogenous VAP among exposed cases compared to nonexposed case patients (32.2% vs 13.8%; OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.31-4.05; P < .005) that were mechanically ventilated for more than 96 hours (62.5% vs 25.7%; OR, 3.62; 95% CI, 2.40-5.46; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This current study suggests that exposure to reprocessed single-use tracheal suction catheter may predispose orally intubated, mechanically ventilated patients in developing VAP. Further research studies are recommended to validate these findings.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL NURSING PRACTICE

The estimated VAP risk of this traditional-based practice is essential to provide strong basis for infection control measures to reduce, if not totally eliminate, VAP.