Establishing Nationally Representative Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Surveillance Data in Paediatric Patients in Greece.

2019

53-59

2019 Jan

1532-2939

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and with excess costs. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are the most common HAI in neonates and children.</p>

<p><strong>AIM: </strong>The broad objective of this study was to establish national benchmark data around rates of CLABSI in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units (NICUs and PICUs) and paediatric oncology units (ONCs).</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Active surveillance for CLABSI was conducted from June 2016 to February 2017. A collaborative of 14 NICUs, 4 PICUs, and 6 ONCs participated in the program. Surveillance definitions of central line (CL), central line utilization (CLU) ratio, CLABSI event, and CLABSI rate were based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2014 National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. Medical records were assessed daily for calculating CL days, patient days, and susceptibility of isolated organisms.</p>

<p><strong>FINDINGS: </strong>A total of 111 CLABSI episodes were recorded. The overall mean CLABSI rate was 4.41 infections per 1000 CL days, and the CLU ratio was 0.31. CLABSI rates were 6.02 in NICUs, 6.09 in PICUs, and 2.78 per 1000 CL days in ONCs. A total of 123 pathogens were isolated. The most common pathogens were Enterobacteriaceae (36%), followed by Gram-positive cocci (29%), non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (16%), and fungi (16%). Overall, 37% of Gram-negative pathogens were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and 37% to carbapenems.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Nationally representative CLABSI rates were determined for paediatric patients. These data could be used to benchmark and serve as baseline data for the design and evaluation of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship interventions.</p>

10.1016/j.jhin.2018.07.032

J. Hosp. Infect.

30059747

Assessment of hand hygiene resources and practices at the 2 children's hospitals in Greece.

2014

e247-51

2014 Oct

1532-0987

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Hand hygiene (HH) is the most effective way to prevent health care-associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The aim of our study was to assess the existing HH resources and current HH practices at 2 hospitals in Athens, Greece.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Observational HH data and an inventory of HH resources were collected from 13 wards including medical/surgical, oncology/transplant and intensive care units, during 65, 1-hour observations periods.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>A total of 1271 HH opportunities were observed during the study period, including 944 of Health Care Workers (HCW) and 327 of visitors and parents. The nursing HH compliance was highest (49%) followed by medical compliance (24%, P &lt; 0.001). HCW HH compliance was highest in intensive care units and the transplant unit (64-87%). The rate of appropriate HH for HCW was 22.6%. HCW most commonly used soap and water (76.1%). The HH procedure was more likely to be appropriate when soap and water were used as compared with alcohol based hand rub (64.6% and 47.5%, P = 0.006). A marginally significant association was identified between the HH compliance rate and the number of alcohol based hand rub dispensers per room (P = 0.057). In visitors and parents, the HH compliance was found to be 19%, whereas the rate of appropriate HH was 8.9%.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Low levels of HH were observed.</p>

10.1097/INF.0000000000000376

Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J.

25361195