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BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infection is a common problem in neonatal intensive care. A pilot quality improvement initiative focussing on hand hygiene and aimed at reducing nosocomial infection in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants was introduced in five Neonatal Intensive Care Units. METHODS: Line associated laboratory confirmed bloodstream infection (LCBSI) and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) were chosen as main outcome measures. RESULTS: In VLBW infants, the rate of line associated LCBSI per 1000 central venous catheter days fell by 24%. The rate of VAP per 1000 ventilator days in VLBW infants fell by 38%. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires showed a statistically significant increase in use of alcohol-based gels and increased knowledge of hand hygiene.

Original publication

DOI

10.3109/14767050903387029

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med

Publication Date

09/2010

Volume

23

Pages

1039 - 1046

Keywords

Catheters, Cross Infection, Decontamination, Hand, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Hygiene, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Very Low Birth Weight, Infection Control, Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Pilot Projects, Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated, Quality Improvement, Surveys and Questionnaires