Increased nurse workload is associated with bloodstream infections in very low birth weight infants

Erik Küng1, Thomas Waldhör2, Judith Rittenschober-Böhm1

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care & Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Scientific Reports
|April 21, 2019
PubMed

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). Nurse workload considerably affects infection rates in intensive care units. However, data concerning the impact of staff workload on bloodstream infections (BSI) in VLBWI are scarce. The aim of the study was to examine the association between nurse workload and BSI in VLBWI. VLBWI admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit during 2016-2017 were retrospectively analysed. Association between nurse workload, determined by a standardized nursing score, and the BSI occurrence was investigated. A higher nurse workload was significantly associated with higher occurrence of BSI (p = 0.0139) in VLBWI. An assumed workload of 120% or higher, representing the need for additional nurses in our NICU setting, is associated with an elevated risk for BSI in this vulnerable population OR 2.32 (95% CI: 1.42-3.8, p = 0.0005). In conclusion, nurse understaffing is associated with a higher risk for BSI in VLBWI.

Related Concept Videos

Birth Control Methods01:22

Birth Control Methods

Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...
5.9K
Urinary Tract Infection IV: Nursing Management01:17

Urinary Tract Infection IV: Nursing Management

In managing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in nursing, a comprehensive assessment is essential. Begin by gathering subjective data, such as the patient’s complaints of dysuria (painful urination), urinary frequency, urgency, suprapubic pain, and any lower abdominal discomfort. This information can be complemented by questions regarding previous UTIs, sexual activity, and personal hygiene practices, which can provide insight into risk factors. Objective assessment should focus on signs...
460
Weighted Mean00:57

Weighted Mean

While taking the arithmetic, geometric, or harmonic mean of a sample data set, equal importance is assigned to all the data points. However, all the values may not always be equally important in some data sets. An intrinsic bias might make it more important to give more weightage to specific values over others.
For example, consider the number of goals scored in the matches of a tournament. While computing the average number of goals scored in the tournament, it may be more important to...
6.2K
Mass and Weight01:19

Mass and Weight

Mass and weight are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation. For example,  medical records often show our weight in kilograms, but never in the correct units of newtons. In physics, however, there is an important distinction. Weight is the pull of the Earth on an object. It depends on the distance from the center of the Earth. Weight dramatically varies if we leave the Earth's surface, unlike mass, which does not vary with location. On the Moon, for example, the...
15.2K
Atomic Weight01:25

Atomic Weight

Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass, about 1.67 × 10-24 grams. Scientists arbitrarily define this amount of mass as one atomic mass unit (amu) or one Dalton. Electrons are much smaller in mass than protons, weighing only 9.11 × 10-28 grams, or about 1/1800 of an atomic mass unit. As a result, they do not contribute much to an element's overall atomic mass. This means that, when considering atomic mass, it is customary to ignore the mass of any electrons and...
11.9K
Apparent Weight01:09

Apparent Weight

True weight is the measure of the gravitational force acting on an object. However, if the object accelerates, its measured weight is different from its true weight. Similar observations can be made when the object is submerged in water. An object's weight in water is its apparent weight, which is equal to the difference between its true weight and the buoyant forces.
Consider a person standing on a bathroom scale inside an elevator. If the scale is accurate at rest, its reading equals the...
9.8K