Articles: intensive-care-units.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Prevention of nosocomial infection in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) through the use of selective digestive decontamination.
To assess the effectiveness of selective digestive decontamination (SDD) on the control of nosocomial infection (NI) in critically ill pediatric patients. ⋯ SDD was effective in controlling respiratory and urinary tract infections in children admitted to the PICU, but it did not reduce the incidence of other types of nosocomial infection.
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Intensive care medicine · Oct 1998
Multicenter StudyNosocomial infections: prospective survey of incidence in five French intensive care units.
To assess the incidence and to evaluate the feasibility of inter-unit continuous surveillance of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infections. ⋯ This prospective study using standardised collection of data on the ICU-acquired infection rate in five ICUs identified six risk factors. It also emphasized the difficulty of achieving truly standardised definitions and methods of diagnosis of such infections.
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To compare pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) mortality risk using models from two distinct time periods; and to discuss the implications of changing mortality risk for severity systems and quality-of-care assessment. ⋯ This study documents differences in pediatric ICU risk of mortality over time that are consistent with a general improvement in the quality of pediatric intensive care. Despite continued widespread use of the original PRISM, recent improvements in pediatric ICU quality of care have negated its usefulness for many intended applications, including quality-of-care assessment.
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Intensive Crit Care Nurs · Oct 1998
Historical ArticleThe evolution and nursing history of a general intensive care unit (1962-1983).
In this paper we have reviewed the origin and evolution of Whiston Hospital's General Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from its humble beginnings as an offshoot of a general ward in the early 1960s. The length of service of the senior nursing staff over a period of 21 years was also calculated. ⋯ In addition, we have outlined the development of nurse training in intensive care as well as the role of the nurses in research in the ICU. The question as to whether later college-based training was superior to the previous hospital-based course remained unanswered.
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Clin Perform Qual Health Care · Oct 1998
Utilizing national nosocomial infection surveillance system data to improve urinary tract infection rates in three intensive-care units.
To reduce catheter-related urinary tract infection rates in three intensive-care units to at or below the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System pooled mean for similar units. ⋯ A multidisciplinary approach assisted in reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in three intensive-care units, although not to the extent desired. The teams are investigating preconnected and antimicrobial-coated catheters further.