Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCN
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Malnutrition in the critically ill patient is associated with adverse outcomes such as increased morbidity, infectious processes, and length of stay. Alterations to the gastrointestinal system during critical illness can be devastating. Current evidence suggests that, in the presence of a functioning gut, initiating early enteral nutrition therapy (within 24-48 hours of intensive care unit admission) results in enhanced tissue repair, preservation of immune competence, and conservation of the integrity of gut flora. Recommendations for practice include development of a national nutrition support protocol for widespread use in the intensive care unit.
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Dimens Crit Care Nurs · Sep 2012
An evidence-based oral care protocol to decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia.
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of 0.12% chlorhexidine rinses and an oral care protocol on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates. A quasi-experimental preintervention-postintervention design was used. ⋯ Data were collected 6 months before and 12 months after intervention. Ventilator-associated pneumonia rates were reduced from 4.3 to 1.86 per 1000 ventilator-days during the study period, with an estimated cost avoidance of $700,000 to $798,000.