Knowledge of“Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections(2011)”:A survey of intensive care unit nursing staffs in China

Aims and objectives:To evaluate intensive care unit(ICU)nurses'knowledge of the updated guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections;to identify the factors that affect the nurses'knowledge and to explore the barriers to adherence to evidence-based guidelines in clinical practice in China.Methods:Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in Chinese ICUs from January 2013 to March 2014.The nurses'demographic information,knowledge of the guidelines,and barriers to adherence were assessed by a validated questionnaire and then analyzed statistically.Results:The questionnaires were completed by 455 ICU nurses from 4 provinces of China.The mean score was 8.17 of 20,and higher scores were significantly associated with province,years of experience,and years of ICU experience.Forty-nine(10.7%)nurses had not heard of the guidelines,whereas 231(50.7%)nurses heard of the guidelines but did not receive training for them.Trained nurses'scores were higher than untrained nurses'scores.The three main barriers to compliance with the guidelines were an unfamiliarity with them,an excessive workload due to a shortage of nurses,and a lack of training.Conclusions:ICU nurses'knowledge of the updated guidelines is quite low,which could be a potential risk factor for patient safety.Multidisciplinary interventions and continuous.

Trends of central line-associated bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit in the Kingdom of Bahrain:Four years’experience

BACKGROUND The central venous line is an essential component in monitoring and managing critically ill patients.However,it poses patients with increased risks of severe infections with a higher probability of morbidity and mortality.AIM To define the trends of the rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections(CLABSI)over four years,its predicted risk factors,aetiology,and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated pathogens.METHODS The study was a prospective case-control study,performed according to the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control surveillance methodology for CLABSI in patients admitted to the adult intensive care unit(ICU)and auditing the implementation of its prevention bundle.RESULTS Thirty-four CLABSI identified over the study period,giving an average CLABSI rate of 3.2/1000 central line days.The infection's time trend displayed significant reductions over time concomitantly with the CLABSI prevention bundle's reinforcement from 4.7/1000 central line days at the beginning of 2016 to 1.4/1000 central line days by 2018.The most frequently identified pathogens causing CLABSI in our ICU were gram-negative organisms(59%).The most common offending organisms were Acinetobacter,Enterococcus,and Staphylococcus epidermidis,each of them accounted for 5 cases(15%).Multidrug-resistant organisms contributed to 56%of CLABSI.Its rate was higher when using femoral access and longer hospitalisation duration,especially in the ICU.Insertion of the central line in the non-ICU setting was another identified risk factor.CONCLUSION Implementing the prevention bundles reduced CLABSI significantly in our ICU.Implementing the CLABSI prevention bundle is crucial to maintain a substantial reduction in the CLABSI rate in the ICU setting.

Care Measures and Health Outcomes in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Brazil

Introduction: In low- and middle-income countries, including Brazil, conditions that favor mortality in the PICU remain significant. Compared to developed countries, there is a shortage of skilled human resources, lower availability of technological resources, greater difficulty of access and a higher incidence of infections, including both those acquired prior to admission and those resulting from treatment and hospitalization (i.e., healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)). HAIs in the PICU include ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related bloodstream infections. Actions for the prevention of HAIs can minimize the occurrence of negative outcomes. Materials and Methods: This is an epidemiological study comparing admissions at the PICU of a high-complexity hospital in South Brazil over two three-year periods: 2012-2014 (before the measures were adopted) and 2015-2017 (after the measures). The care measures were adopted mainly at the beginning of 2015 and consisted of expansion of physical therapy care, adoption of care protocols, acquisition of new materials and equipment (transparent dressings for central catheters, high-tech mechanical ventilators and multiparametric monitors) and multidisciplinary team training. The frequency of the outcomes mortality, length of PICU stay, diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection, need for and duration of ventilatory support and diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia were compared between the two trienniums using logistic regression with adjustment for age in months and need of vasoactive drugs. Results: A total of 1140 admissions were analyzed (470 in the first triennium and 670 in the second), representing an increase in the admission rate of 42.6% after the adoption of the measures. After adjustments, significant reductions in the frequency of mortality (adjusted OR [adjOR] = 0.54;CI 95%: 0.34 - 0.84), length of PICU stay > 7 days (adjOR = 0.75;CI 95%: 0.57 - 0.97) and duration of ventilatory support > 7 days (adjOR = 0.54;CI 95%: 0.39 - 0.74) were observed. Conclusion: The results indicate the benefits of care measures for children admitted to the PICU in terms of a reduction in adverse events and expansion of access.

Device-associated infection rates, mortality, length of stay and bacterial resistance in intensive care units in Ecuador: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium's findings

AIM To report the results of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium(INICC) study conducted in Quito, Ecuador.METHODS A device-associated healthcare-acquired infection(DAHAI) prospective surveillance study conducted from October 2013 to January 2015 in 2 adult intensive care units(ICUs) from 2 hospitals using the United States Centers for Disease Control/National Healthcare Safety Network(CDC/NHSN) definitions and INICC methods. RESULTS We followed 776 ICU patients for 4818 bed-days. The central line-associated bloodstream infection(CLABSI) rate was 6.5 per 1000 central line(CL)-days, the ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP) rate was 44.3 per 1000 mechanical ventilator(MV)-days, and the catheterassociated urinary tract infection(CAUTI) rate was 5.7 per 1000 urinary catheter(UC)-days. CLABSI and CAUTI rates in our ICUs were similar to INICC rates [4.9(CLABSI) and 5.3(CAUTI)] and higher than NHSN rates [0.8(CLABSI) and 1.3(CAUTI)]- although device use ratios for CL and UC were higher than INICC and CDC/NSHN's ratios. By contrast, despite the VAP rate was higher than INICC(16.5) and NHSN's rates(1.1), MV DUR was lower in our ICUs. Resistance of A. baumannii to imipenem and meropenem was 75.0%, and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ciprofloxacin and piperacillin-tazobactam was higher than 72.7%, all them higher than CDC/NHSN rates. Excess length of stay was 7.4 d for patients with CLABSI, 4.8 for patients with VAP and 9.2 for patients CAUTI. Excess crude mortality in ICUs was 30.9% for CLABSI, 14.5% for VAP and 17.6% for CAUTI. CONCLUSION DA-HAI rates in our ICUs from Ecuador are higher than United States CDC/NSHN rates and similar to INICC international rates.

Is every microorganism detected in the intensive care unit a nosocomial infection?Isn’t prevention more important than detection?

The present letter to the editor is related to the study entitled“Multidrug-resistant organisms in intensive care units and logistic analysis of risk factors.”Not every microorganism grown in samples taken from critically ill patients can be considered as an infectious agent.Accurate and adequate information about nosocomial infections is essential in introducing effective prevention programs in hospitals.Therefore,the development and implementation of care bundles for frequently used medical devices and invasive treatment devices(e.g.,intravenous catheters and invasive ventilation),adequate staffing not only for physicians,nurses,and other medical staff but also for housekeeping staff,and infection surveillance and motivational feedback are key points of infection prevention in the intensive care unit.

Healthcare Associated Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of King Abdl Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, KSA

Healthcare-associated infection is a common problem of newborn in neonatal intensive care units. It results in high mortality rate and serious complications. The Aim: to assess the incidence, etiology and the mortality of healthcareassociated infections of patients in neonatal intensive care unit at King Abdl Aziz Specialist Hospital (KAASH), Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 8033 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit during period between April, 2006 and December, 2012. The health-care associated infection rate, mortality rate, causative organism and risk factors were studied. Results: The prevalence of health-care associated infection was found to be 6.03%;the mortality rate was 27.1%. The highest prevalence was among children with the birth weight below 1000 g. The most frequent causative pathogen was klebseilla spp, followed by other gram negative bacilli. Conclusion: The rate of healthcare-associated infections in neonatal intensive care unit at KAASH was relatively high. In addition, the mortality rate was observed to be high (27.1%) owing to the high virulence of the causative organisms.

Risk factors and mortality rates of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections in intensive care units

Background The prevalence of hospital-acquired infections caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria(CRGNB)is increasing worldwide.Several risk factors have been associated with such infections.The present study aimed to identify risk factors and determine the mortality rates associated with CRGNB infections in intensive care units.Methods This retrospective case-control study was conducted at Erciyes University Hospital(Kayseri,Turkey)between January 2017 and December 2021.Demographic and laboratory data were obtained from the Infection Control Committee data and record system.Patients who had CRGNB infection 48–72 h after hospitalization were assigned to the case group,while those who were not infected with CRGNB during hospitalization formed the control group.Risk factors,comorbidity,demographic data,and mortality rates were compared between the two groups.Results Approximately 1449 patients(8.97%)were monitored during the active follow-up period;of those,1171 patients were included in this analysis.CRGNB infection developed in 14 patients(70.00%)who had CRGNB colonization at admission;in 162(78.26%)were colonized during hospitalization,whereas 515(54.56%)were not colonized.There was no significant difference in age,sex(male/female)or comorbidities.The total length of hospital stay was statistically significantly longer(P=0.001)in the case group(median:24[interquartile range:3–378]days)than the control group(median:16[interquartile range:3–135]days).The rates of colonization at admission(25.5%;vs.10.6%,P=0.001)and mortality(64.4%vs.45.8%,P=0.001)were also significantly higher in the cases than in the control group,respectively.In the univariate analysis,prolonged hospitalization,the time from intensive care unit admission to the development of infection,presence of CRGNB colonization at admission,transfer from other hospitals,previous antibiotic use,enteral nutrition,transfusion,hemodialysis,mechanical ventilation,tracheostomy,reintubation,central venous catheter,arterial catheterization,chest tube,total parenteral nutrition,nasogastric tube use,and bronchoscopy procedures were significantly associated with CRGNB infections(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis identified the total length of stay in the hospital(odds ratio[OR]=1.02;95%confidence interval[CI]:1.01 to 1.03;P=0.001),colonization(OR=2.19;95%CI:1.53 to 3.13;P=0.001),previous antibiotic use(OR=2.36;95%CI:1.53 to 3.62;P=0.001),intubation(OR=1.59;95%CI:1.14 to 2.20;P=0.006),tracheostomy(OR=1.42;95%CI:1.01 to 1.99;P=0.047),and central venous catheter use(OR=1.62;95%CI:1.20 to 2.19;P=0.002)as the most important risk factors for CRGNB infection.Conclusions Colonization,previous use of antibiotics,and invasive interventions were recognized as the most important risk factors for infections.Future research should focus on measures for the control of these parameters.

Predictors of Clostridium difficile infection severity in patients hospitalised in medical intensive care

AIM:To describe and analyse factors associated with Clostridium difficile infection(CDI)severity in hospitalised medical intensive care unit patients.METHODS:We performed a retrospective cohort study of 40 patients with CDI in a medical intensive care unit(MICU)at a French university hospital.We include patients hospitalised between January 1,2007and December 31,2011.Data on demographics characteristics,past medical history,CDI description was collected.Exposure to risk factors associated with CDI within 8 wk before CDI was recorded,including previous hospitalisation,nursing home residency,antibiotics,antisecretory drugs,and surgical procedures.RESULTS:All included cases had their first episode of CDI.The mean incidence rate was 12.94 cases/1000admitted patients,and 14.93,8.52,13.24,19.70,and8.31 respectively per 1000 admitted patients annually from 2007 to 2011.Median age was 62.9[interquartile range(IQR)55.4-72.40]years,and 13(32.5%)were women.Median length of MICU stay was 14.0d(IQR 5.0-22.8).In addition to diarrhoea,the clinical symptoms of CDI were fever(>38℃)in 23 patients,abdominal pain in 15 patients,and ileus in 1 patient.The duration of diarrhoea was 13.0(8.0-19.5)d.In addition to diarrhoea,the clinical symptoms of CDI were fever(>38℃)in 23 patients,abdominal pain in 15 patients,and ileus in 1 patient.Prior to CDI,38patients(95.0%)were exposed to antibiotics,and 12(30%)received at least 4 antibiotics.Fluoroquinolones,3rdgeneration cephalosporins,coamoxiclav and tazocillin were prescribed most frequently(65%,55%,40%and 37.5%,respectively).The majority of cases were hospital-acquired(n=36,90%),with 5 cases(13.9%)being MICU-acquired.Fifteen patients had severe CDI.The crude mortality rate within 30 d after diagnosis was 40%(n=16),with 9 deaths(9 over 16;56.3%)related to CDI.Of our 40 patients,15(37.5%)had severe CDI.Multivariate logistic regression showed that male gender[odds ratio(OR):8.45;95%CI:1.06-67.16,P=0.044],rising serum C-reactive protein levels(OR=1.11;95%CI:1.02-1.21,P=0.021),and previous exposure to fluoroquinolones(OR=9.29;95%CI:1.16-74.284,P=0.036)were independently associated with severe CDI.CONCLUSION:We report predictors of severe CDI not dependent on time of assessment.Such factors could help in the development of a quantitative score in ICU’s patients.

Comparing Resistant Microorganisms Isolated from Patients and Environment in an Intensive Care Unit

Background: Recently, the probable involvement of surfaces from the hospital environment as a disseminating source of resistant bacteria has been highlighted. The aim of the study was to compare resistant microorganisms isolated from inanimate surfaces, equipments and patient blood culture samples in an Intensive Care Unit from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from July to October 2009. Data sources were microbiologic samples from environment and patient blood culture. Duplicate samples were obtained by swabs from up to seven different touch sites around two different patients in four different days. Jointly with the environmental samples, bacterial isolates from an adult ICU patients’ routine blood cultures were obtained from hospital laboratory. The samples were identified, tested for sensitivity and compared by rep-PCR test to verify similarity. Results: Difference among the averages of Colony Forming Units was found within the environment samples (p < 0.004). In the environment were identified antibiotic resistant microorganisms such as Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis, imipenem and ciprofloxacin Pseudomonas aeruginosa and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Similarities (60% -80%) were established among environmental and blood culture samples. Conclusion: The environmental sampling showed different averages of contamination of the surfaces and equipment. The similarity among the bacterial isolates of patients’ blood cultures and environmental samples reinforces the hypothesis of the horizontal transference of pathogens.

21st century critical care medicine:An overview

Critical care medicine in the 21st century has witnessed remarkable advancements that have significantly improved patient outcomes in intensive care units(ICUs).This abstract provides a concise summary of the latest developments in critical care,highlighting key areas of innovation.Recent advancements in critical care include Precision Medicine:Tailoring treatments based on individual patient characteristics,genomics,and biomarkers to enhance the effectiveness of therapies.The objective is to describe the recent advancements in Critical Care Medicine.Telemedicine:The integration of telehealth technologies for remote patient monitoring and consultation,facilitating timely interventions.Artificial intelligence(AI):AI-driven tools for early disease detection,predictive analytics,and treatment optimization,enhancing clinical decision-making.Organ Support:Advanced life support systems,such as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy provide better organ support.Infection Control:Innovative infection control measures to combat emerging pathogens and reduce healthcare-associated infections.Ventilation Strategies:Precision ventilation modes and lung-protective strategies to minimize ventilatorinduced lung injury.Sepsis Management:Early recognition and aggressive management of sepsis with tailored interventions.Patient-Centered Care:A shift towards patient-centered care focusing on psychological and emotional wellbeing in addition to medical needs.We conducted a thorough literature search on PubMed,EMBASE,and Scopus using our tailored strategy,incorporating keywords such as critical care,telemedicine,and sepsis management.A total of 125 articles meeting our criteria were included for qualitative synthesis.To ensure reliability,we focused only on articles published in the English language within the last two decades,excluding animal studies,in vitro/molecular studies,and non-original data like editorials,letters,protocols,and conference abstracts.These advancements reflect a dynamic landscape in critical care medicine,where technology,research,and patient-centered approaches converge to improve the quality of care and save lives in ICUs.The future of critical care promises even more innovative solutions to meet the evolving challenges of modern medicine.

Health Care Personnel’s Attitude toward Hand Hygiene in Regard to the Prevention of Health-Care Associated Infections: A Cross Sectional Study at the University Hospital Pristine

Background: Hand hygiene is the leading measure for preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and reducing healthcare-associated infections, but health care worker compliance with optimal practices remains low in most settings. Objective: The main aim of this paper is to determine findings and start drafting policies in implementing them into practice after finding out nurses’ opinions, beliefs and attitudes toward hand hygiene (HH). Methodology and methods: A cross sectional descriptive and observational study during November 2009. Results: From the total number of 175 health care workers employed in this unit, 67 (38.3%) were observed regarding adherence to hand hygiene. Regarding the knowledge, practices and attitudes of the nurses, data were collected from 54 (50.0%) among 108 nurses in four intensive care units within the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK). From research findings, it was concluded that hand hygiene compliance in the intensive care units was low (51.3%). Conclusion: Research results show the necessity of organizing multimodal programs with intensive care units of University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK) on increase of knowledge level on health-care associated infections (HAI).

Analysis of the Current Situation and Risk Factors of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection among ICU Patients in Guizhou,China During 2019-2022

Objective:This study aims to explore the prevalence,features,and risk factors of lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs)in the intensive care unit(ICU)of a newly established hospital in Zunyi City.The goal is to devise strategies for preventing LRTIs in the ICU of new hospitals,thereby mitigating the incidence of nosocomial LRTIs in ICU patients.Methods:A case-control study was conducted from March 2019 to December 2022 to investigate the incidence rate of LRTIs in the ICU of a newly constructed hospital in Zunyi City.Patients with LRTIs constituted the case group,while those without LRTIs constituted the control group,where a 1:1 matching principle was adhered to.A single-factor chi-square(χ2)test was employed to analyze the risk factors,with independent risk factors being explored using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:A total of 169 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated,comprising 66.28%gram-negative bacteria,17.75%gram-positive bacteria,and 15.97%fungi.The most prevalent pathogens included Acinetobacter baumannii(43.20%),Candida albicans(10.65%),and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(8.88%).Of the 82 strains infected by multidrug-resistant bacteria in patients with LRTIs,81.7%were carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii,9.8%were multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and 6.1%were carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli.Identified risk factors included smoking history,total hospitalization days,ICU stay length,hypoproteinemia,indwelling gastric tube,intubation type,duration of mechanical ventilation,usage of antibacterial drugs,and administration of protein drugs(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that these factors were independent risk factors for nosocomial LRTIs in ICU patients(P<0.05).Conclusion:ICU patients in our hospital were mainly infected by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.To prevent LRTIs in patients,tailored preventive measures should be developed and the rational use of antibacterial drugs should be promoted.

Infection management strategy based on prevention and control of nosocomial infections in intensive care units

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection,which is clinical problem often faced by intensive care units (ICU) doctors.Without positive treatment,the incidence and mortality of sepsis are high.^[1]As hospital infection control plays an essential role in treating the nosocomial infections in the ICU,and according to the clinical presentation of critically ill patients,the biological characteristics of pathogenic microorganisms and the ICU environment,this article put forward a strategy for the nosocomial infections in the ICU.

Clinical analysis of central venous catheter-related infections in patients in the emergency ICU

BACKGROUND:Catheter-related infection(CRI)of the central vein is a common cause of nosocomial infection.This study was undertaken to investigate the pathogen culturing and risk factors of CRI in emergency intensive care unit(EICU)in order to provide the beneficial reference.METHODS:From January 2008 to December 2010,a total of 1 363 patients were subjected to catheterization.In these patients,the peak CRI rate of the patients was determined by bacterial cultivation and blood bacterial cultivation.RESULTS:CRI happened in 147 of the 1 363 patients using the central venous catheter.The peak rate of CRI was 10.79%,with an incidence of 3.05 episodes per 1 000 catheter days.Of the147 patients,46.94%had gram-negative bacilli,40.14%had gram-positive cocci,and 12.92%had fungi.Unconditional logistic regression analysis suggests that multiple catheterization,femoral vein catheterization,the application of multicavity catheter,and the duration of catheterization were the independent risk factors for CRI.CONCLUSION:The risk factors for catheter-related infections should be controlled to prevent the occurrence of nosocomial infection.

Antimicrobial stewardship in the intensive care unit

High resistance rates to antimicrobials continue to be a global health threat.The incidence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)microorganisms in intensive care units(ICUs)is quite high compared to in the community and other unitsin the hospital because ICU patients are generally older,have higher numbers of co-morbidities and immunesuppressed;moreover,the typically high rates of invasive procedures performed in the ICU increase the risk ofinfection by MDR microorganisms.Antimicrobial stewardship(AMS)refers to the implementation of coordinatedinterventions to improve and track the appropriate use of antibiotics while offering the best possible antibioticprescription(according to dose,duration,and route of administration).Broad-spectrum antibiotics are frequentlypreferred in ICUs because of greater infection severity and colonization and infection by MDR microorganisms.For this reason,a number of studies on AMS in ICUs have increased in recent years.Reducing the use of broadspectrum antibiotics forms the basis of AMS.For this purpose,parameters such as establishing an AMS team,limiting the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials,terminating treatments early,using early warning systems,pursuing infection control,and providing education and feedback are used.In this review,current AMS practicesin ICUs are discussed.

Clinical efficacy and safety of linezolid in intensive care unit patients

Background:To characterize the population of critically ill patients and infections treated with linezolid in the intensive care unit(ICU),and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of linezolid therapy.Methods::This multi-center,observational,real-world study was conducted across 52 hospitals between June 9,2018,and December 28,2019.Patients who met the following inclusion criteria were included:(1)admitted to the ICU,(2)of any age group,and(3)having a clinical or laboratory diagnosis of a Gram-positive bacterial infection.Clinical efficacy was categorized as success(cured or improved),failed,or non-evaluable.Adverse events and serious adverse events were recorded during treatment.Results::A total of 366 ICU patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated.Linezolid was used as second-and first-line treatment in 232(63.4%)and 134(36.6%)patients,respectively.The most common isolated strain was Staphylococcus aureus(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus:n=37/119,31.1%;methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus:n=15/119,12.6%);this was followed by Enterococci(vancomycin-resistant Enterococci:n=8/119,6.7%;vancomycin-susceptible Enterococci:n=11/119,9.2%)and Streptococcus pneumoniae(multidrug-resistant:n=4/119,3.4%;non-multidrug resistant:n=2/119,1.7%).The main infection sites where pathogens were detected included the lung(n=216/366,59.6%),skin and soft tissue(n=104/366,28.4%),and blood(n=50/366,13.7%).Clinical success was achieved in 301(82.2%)patients;34(9.3%)were cured and 267(73.0%)improved;treatment failure and non-evaluable outcomes were observed in 29(7.9%)in 36(9.8%)patients,respectively.Linezolid-related adverse events were reported in 8(2.2%)patients.No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported.Conclusions::Based on real-world results,linezolid was found to be effective and safe in the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infections in critically ill patients.

Healthcare Quality According to ICU Level of Care

Introduction: Little is known about the quality of healthcare in intensive care units (ICUs) in Poland. Data on patients hospitalized in ICUs in Warsaw and the results of their treatment are scarce. This information, crucial for improving the quality of ICU healthcare services, is not collected routinely. Quality indicators are essential in the concept of holistic quality management. Implementation of these indicators in ICUs is a complex and time-consuming process. Systematic increase in demand for quality assessment tools that can reflect real conditions of the practices of ICUs, prompts the search for effective solutions. Methods: The study included 12,155 patients hospitalized in 16 ICUs of Warsaw hospitals (8 ICUs, n = 3293 of the first level of care, and 8 ICUs, n = 8862 of the second level) between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2018. ICUs in pediatric and oncological hospitals were excluded from the study. Characteristics and demography of patients as well as the structure, treatment and human resources of the ICUs in Warsaw were analyzed. Length of stay, unexpected extubations, nosocomial infections, ICU readmissions and standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were retrieved from National Health Fund, Ministry of Health, and other public databases. Results: In primary level ICUs patients’ age (66.42 vs. 64.43 years;p = 0.005) and comorbidity rate (30.56% vs. 22.78%, p = 0.037) were higher when compared to ICUs of the second level of care. The crude mortality rate in ICUs in Warsaw was significantly higher than in other EU countries and differed between ICUs of the first and the second level (34.77% vs. 24.53%, respectively;p = 0.004). SMRs were however very low: 0.71 and 0.64 (ns), respectively. ICU readmission rate, unexpected extubations, central catheter related infections, and length of stay were identical in both groups. More patients were admitted to ICU form emergency department and/or discharged home in Level 1 ICUs (18.9% vs 12.9%, p Conclusions: There are no major differences in quality of care provided by Level 1 and Level 2 ICUs in Poland, although more rigorous adhesion to admission and discharge policies is needed. Implementation of the instruments for assessing quality of ICUs including benchmarking, self-assessment of departments and evaluation of changes resulting from audits according to the Deming cycle is of utmost importance. Standardization of quality measures and markers, communication, and cooperation in reporting and creation of ICU medical registers is necessary to improve the quality of healthcare.

重症患者导管相关性血流感染的病原菌分布与影响因素分析

目的探讨重症患者导管相关性血流感染(catheter-related bloodstream infection,CRBSI)的病原菌分布及影响因素。方法回顾性分析2019年7月1日至2022年7月2日期间在简阳市人民医院重症医学科接受中心静脉置管患者的临床资料,依据患者是否发生中心静脉CRBSI分为CRBSI组与非CRBSI组。对CRBSI组患者行病原菌种类分析,同时比较两组临床资料信息,并将有统计学意义的变量纳入多因素Logistic回归分析,明确接受中心静脉置管患者发生CRBSI的危险因素,通过受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)构建重症患者发生CRBSI的预测模型。结果共纳入接受中心静脉置管患者293例,其中CRBSI组38例、非CRBSI组255例。38例CRBSI患者共检出病原菌52珠,其中革兰氏阳性菌占比50.00%(26/52),以金黄色葡萄球菌19.23%(10/52)、表皮葡萄球菌7.69%(4/52)为主;革兰氏阴性菌占比44.23%(23/52),以大肠埃希菌17.31%(9/52)、肺炎克雷伯杆菌13.46%(7/52)为主;真菌占比5.77%(3/52),均为白色念珠菌。CRBSI组年龄≥60岁、合并糖尿病、置管部位为股静脉或颈内静脉、静脉营养液输液、置管前应用抗菌药物者占比显著高于非CRBSI组;CRBSI组BMI、入院时APACHEⅡ评分显著高于非CRBSI组,置管时间显著长于非CRBSI组,P值均<0.05。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄≥60岁、高BMI、合并糖尿病、入院时高APACHEⅡ评分、置管部位为股静脉或颈内静脉、置管时间长、输液类型为静脉营养液、置管前应用抗菌药物为重症患者发生CRBSI的危险因素。ROC分析表明,BMI、入院时APACHEⅡ评分、置管时间均能用于重症患者发生CRBSI的预测,曲线下面积分别为0.778、0.919、0.975(P<0.05)。结论重症患者中心静脉置管后CRBSI的病原菌以金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌较为多见,同时CRBSI的发生与年龄、BMI、置管天数、置管部位等因素关系密切,临床治疗过程中应当予以关注。

重症监护病房多重耐药菌感染分布情况及影响因素分析

目的分析重症监护病房(ICU)患者多重耐药菌(MDRO)感染的分布情况及其危险因素,并提出相关的预防和控制措施。方法本研究以2021年7月至2022年12月汕头市某三级甲等医院ICU收治的1407例患者为对象,回顾性收集其住院期间是否发生MDRO感染,分析MDRO感染发生率和分布情况,并分为MDRO感染组和非MDRO感染组进行比较,采用多因素logistic回归筛选MDRO感染的相关危险因素。结果ICU共有1407例住院患者均接受细菌培养及耐药菌株检测,其中男性患者为880例,女性患者为527例;MDRO感染发生率为18.69%(263/1407)。ICU中MDRO感染菌株主要涉及大肠埃希菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和肺炎克雷伯菌等。多因素分析结果显示,合并心血管病(OR=1.453,95%CI 1.006~2.079)、广谱抗生素使用时长≥1周(OR=1.900,95%CI 1.377~2.620)、使用≥2联抗生素(OR=1.913,95%CI 1.378~2.655)、留置血管内导管(OR=2.456,95%CI 1.416~3.241)与MDRO感染风险增高有关(P<0.05)。结论ICU患者中MDRO的感染发生率相对其他普通病区仍处于较高水平,应针对MDRO感染的特点和相关的高危因素及时采取预防和控制措施,有效降低MDRO的感染发生率。

急诊重症监护室血流感染患者临床结局的风险因子探讨

目的探讨急诊重症监护室(emergency intensive care unit,EICU)血流感染患者临床结局的风险因子,为临床决策提供依据。方法回顾性收集2019年1月至2023年4月我院就诊的141例EICU血流感染患者的病历资料及血培养记录,采用Logistic回归分析患者死亡的危险因素,运用Cox回归分析上述因素与患者生存时间和临床结局的关系。结果在141例EICU血流感染患者中,两种及以上细菌混合血流感染[比值比(OR)=5.68,95%置信区间(CI):1.20~26.98,P<0.05]及多重耐药菌血流感染(OR=6.39,95%CI:2.78~14.67,P<0.01)与患者死亡具有显著相关性;是否根据药敏结果及时调整用药[风险比(HR)=0.47,95%CI:0.30~0.74]和多重耐药菌血流感染(HR=2.02,95%CI:1.28~3.20)是EICU血流感染患者死亡的风险因子(P<0.01)。结论尽早采集血培养,明确感染病原菌,精准用药控制感染,可以有效降低患者的死亡率。