Organosilane for surface cleaning in intensive care units: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial with...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Intensive Care Medicine
• Environmental Hygiene

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Surface contamination in ICUs is a known reservoir for multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs).
• Novel disinfection strategies are crucial for improving patient safety in critical care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of organosilane surface disinfection in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) within intensive care units (ICUs).
• To assess the impact of organosilane on environmental contamination by multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs).
• To determine the cost-effectiveness of organosilane disinfection in the ICU setting.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, controlled, cluster-randomized trial involving 14 ICUs in Brazil.
• Sequential crossover design with 6 months of organosilane disinfection followed by 6 months of usual care, or vice versa.
• Primary outcome: incidence of HAIs (ventilator-associated pneumonia, central-line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections). Secondary outcomes include MDRO environmental contamination and ICU costs.

Main Results:

• Data collection is ongoing; results are pending.
• The study is designed to provide robust evidence on the effectiveness of organosilane disinfection.

Conclusions:

• The study will provide critical insights into the role of organosilane surface disinfection in preventing HAIs and reducing MDROs in ICUs.
• Findings will inform infection control practices and potentially reduce the burden of HAIs in critical care environments.