Audit and feedback as a tool to increase compliance with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) screening...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

• Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) pose a significant threat in healthcare settings.
• Inconsistent adherence to screening protocols can facilitate CPE transmission.
• Effective infection control strategies are crucial for managing CPE outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance compliance with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) screening protocols.
• To reduce the transmission rates of CPE within a hospital environment.
• To evaluate the impact of real-time audit and feedback on infection control practices.

Main Methods:

• A before-and-after trial was conducted in a 500-bed university-affiliated hospital.
• Real-time audit and feedback on CPE screening compliance were implemented in January 2017.
• Active enhanced surveillance of CPE carriers was performed throughout the study period (2016-2019).

Main Results:

• Compliance with CPE screening significantly increased from 74% in 2017 to 95% in 2019 (P < .0001).
• CPE transmission rates decreased significantly from 12% in 2017 to 2% in 2019 (P < .0001).
• No correlation was found between other infection control interventions and CPE screening or acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Real-time audit and feedback are effective in improving adherence to hospital screening guidelines for CPE.
• This intervention strategy can significantly reduce CPE transmission within healthcare facilities.
• Targeted feedback mechanisms are valuable tools for enhancing infection control.