Structure and process associated with the efficiency of intensive care units in low-resource settings: An analysis of...

Characteristics of structure and process impact ICU performance and the outcomes of critically ill patients. We sought to identify organizational characteristics associated with efficient ICUs in low-resource settings.

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter cluster-randomized clinical trial in Brazil (CHECKLIST-ICU). Efficient units were defined by standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and standardized resource use (SRU) lower than the overall medians and non-efficient otherwise. We used a regularized logistic regression model to evaluate associations between organizational factors and efficiency.

From 118 ICUs (13,635 patients), 47 units were considered efficient and 71 non-efficient. Efficient units presented lower incidence rates (median[IQR]) of central line-associated bloodstream infections (4.95[0.00-22.0] vs 6.29[0.00-25.6], p = .04), utilization rates of mechanical ventilation (0.41[0.07-0.73] vs 0.58[0.19-0.82], p < .001), central venous catheter (0.67[0.15-0.98] vs 0.78[0.33-0.98], p = .04), and indwelling urinary catheter (0.62[0.22-0.95] vs 0.76[0.32-0.98], p < .01) than non-efficient units. The reported active surveillance of ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR = 1.72; 95%CI, 1.16-2.57) and utilization of central venous catheters (OR = 1.94; 95%CI, 1.32-2.94) were associated with efficient ICUs.

In low-resource settings, active surveillance of nosocomial infections and the utilization of invasive devices were associated with efficiency, supporting the management and evaluation of performance indicators as a starting point for improvement in ICU.