Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Pediatric Prevention Network: a multicenter collaboration to improve health care outcomes
S Girouard1, G Levine, K Goodrich
1National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
Insights
Pediatric patients face high risks for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). A Pediatric Prevention Network was established to track infection rates, implement interventions, and improve outcomes for children in hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare epidemiology
- Pediatric public health
- Infection control and prevention
Background:
- Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance are significant causes of illness and death, posing a major public health challenge.
- Current surveillance and prevention efforts for HAIs primarily target adults, overlooking the heightened risk in pediatric populations due to immature immune systems and frequent device use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a national network for pediatric infection surveillance and prevention.
- To set baseline infection rates, develop and test interventions, and establish benchmarks for pediatric HAIs.
- To create a model for quality improvement in healthcare for hospitalized children.
Main Methods:
- Formation of the Pediatric Prevention Network in 1997 through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions.
- Invitation for infection control professionals and hospital administrators from all children's hospitals to participate.
- Focus on establishing baseline rates, designing/implementing/evaluating prevention strategies, and facilitating multicenter studies.
Main Results:
- The network successfully engaged infection control professionals and administrators from children's hospitals nationwide.
- It provided a framework for collecting data on pediatric HAIs and implementing standardized prevention strategies.
- The initiative laid the groundwork for establishing benchmark rates and best practices in pediatric infection control.
Conclusions:
- The Pediatric Prevention Network serves as a vital model for quality improvement in pediatric healthcare.
- It addresses the critical need for focused surveillance and prevention of HAIs in hospitalized children.
- The network facilitates collaborative efforts to enhance patient safety and improve outcomes for children.
Abstract:
Nosocomial infections and antimicrobial resistance are major causes of mortality and morbidity and have become a major public health focus. To date, most national and international nosocomial infection surveillance and prevention activities have been focused on adults, despite the fact that pediatric patients are at high risk for nosocomial infections because of their immature immune systems and prevalent device usage. In 1997 the Hospital Infections Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions partnered to establish a Pediatric Prevention Network. Infection control professionals and their hospital administrators at all children's hospitals were invited to participate. The objectives of the network are to establish baseline infection rates; design, implement, and evaluate prevention interventions; establish benchmark rates and best practices; and serve as a site for multicenter studies to improve outcomes for hospitalized children. This network serves as a model for quality improvement systems in health care.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution