Severe trauma patients and nursing practice-associated infections

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine
• Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are common in intensive care units (ICUs), increasing patient length of stay.
• Nursing practice plays a critical role in controlling infection transmission within ICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors contributing to the development of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a tertiary hospital's ICU.
• To identify specific nursing practice-related factors associated with HAI acquisition.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective longitudinal study design was employed, analyzing patient records from an ICU.
• Data from 375 patient records (2012-2016) were analyzed using binomial logistic regression.
• Two observation periods (admission and discharge) were utilized to capture relevant patient data.

Main Results:

• 9.2% of patients acquired a healthcare-associated infection during their ICU stay.
• Increased duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay were significantly associated with HAI development.
• Nursing practice factors, specifically related to ventilation and ICU duration, were identified as key contributors.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare-associated infections in ICU patients, particularly those with severe trauma, are primarily linked to the management of invasive procedures.
• A multidisciplinary strategy focusing on reviewing care and action plans is recommended to mitigate HAI risks.
• Enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions for high-risk patients are crucial for infection prevention.