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Biomedical subjects

Victoria J Fraser

Publications and source records attributed to Victoria J Fraser.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Risk of hospital-acquired legionnaires' disease in cities using monochloramine versus other water disinfectants.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the association between the disinfection of municipal drinking water with monochloramine and the occurrence of hospital-acquired legionnaires' disease (LD). SETTING: One hundred sixty-six U.S. hospitals. DESIGN: Survey of 459 members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) for hospital features; endemic- and outbreak-related, hospital-acquired LD; the source of the hospital water supply; and the methods of disinfection used by the hospitals and municipal water treatment plants. RESULTS: SHEA members representing 166 (36%) of 459 hospitals responded; 33 (20%) reported one or more episodes of hospital-acquired LD during the period from 1994 to 1998 and 23 (14%) reported an outbreak of hospital-acquired LD during the period from 1989 to 1998. Hospitals with an occurrence of hospital-acquired LD had a higher census (median, 319 vs 221; P = .03), more acute care beds (median, 500 vs 376; P = .04), and more intensive care unit beds (median, 42 vs 24; P = .009) than did other hospitals. They were also more likely to have a transplant service (74% vs 42%; P = .001) and to perform surveillance for hospital-acquired disease (92% vs 61%; P = .001). After adjustment for the presence of a transplant program and surveillance for legionnaires' disease, hospitals supplied with drinking water disinfected with monochloramine by municipal plants were less likely to have sporadic cases or outbreaks of hospital-acquired LD (odds ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.07 to 0.56) than were other hospitals. CONCLUSION: Water disinfection with monochloramine by municipal water treatment plants significantly reduces the risk of hospital-acquired LD.

American Hospital Association↗
PubMed2003

Outcome and attributable cost of ventilator-associated pneumonia among intensive care unit patients in a suburban medical center.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attributable cost of ventilator-associated pneumonia from a hospital-based cost perspective, after adjusting for potential confounders. DESIGN: Patients admitted between January 19, 1998, and December 31, 1999, were followed prospectively for the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Hospital costs were defined by using the hospital cost accounting database. SETTING: The medical and surgical intensive care units at a suburban, tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Patients requiring >24 hrs of mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, in-hospital mortality rate, total intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay (LOS), and total hospital cost per patient. Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in 127 of 819 patients (15.5%). Compared with uninfected, ventilated patients, patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia had a higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score on admission (p <.001) and were more likely to require multiple intubations (p <.001), hemodialysis (p <.001), tracheostomy (p <.001), central venous catheters (p <.001), and corticosteroids (p <.001). Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were more likely to be bacteremic during their ICU stay (36 [28%] vs. 22 [3%]; p <.001). Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia had significantly higher unadjusted ICU LOS (26 vs. 4 days; p <.001), hospital LOS (38 vs. 13 days; p <.001), mortality rate (64 [50%] vs. 237 [34%]; p <.001), and hospital costs (70,568 dollars vs. 21,620 dollars, p <.001). Multiple linear regression, controlling for other factors that may affect costs, estimated the attributable cost of ventilator-associated pneumonia to be 11,897 dollars (95% confidence interval = 5,265 dollars-26,214 dollars; p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia had significantly longer ICU and hospital LOS, with higher crude hospital cost and mortality rate compared with uninfected patients. After we adjusted for underlying severity of illness, the attributable cost of ventilator-associated pneumonia was approximately 11,897 dollars.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

An educational intervention to prevent catheter-associated bloodstream infections in a nonteaching, community medical center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based intervention to prevent catheter-associated bloodstream infections among intensive care unit patients at a nonteaching, community hospital. DESIGN: Nonrandomized pre/post observational trial. SETTING: Two intensive care units at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Saint Louis, MO. PARTICIPANTS: Nurses and critical care physicians. INTERVENTION: A ten-page, self-study module on the prevention of catheter-associated bloodstream infections, lectures, and posters given between July and September 1999. MEASUREMENTS: The incidence of nosocomial catheter-associated bloodstream infection and patient demographics were measured for patients admitted between March 1998 and July 2000. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty cases of catheter-associated bloodstream infections during 6110 catheter-days were noted in the preintervention period (4.9 cases/1000 catheter-days) vs. 11 cases during the 5210 catheter-days in the postintervention period (2.1 cases/1000 catheter-days). The relative risk for catheter-associated infection in the postintervention period was 0.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.84). Among catheterized patients, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (25.2 preintervention vs. 25.1 postintervention; p =.86), hemodialysis (91 of 647 [14%] patients vs. 69 of 541 [13%]; p =.70), and the mean number of catheter days per patient (9.1 vs. 9.6 days; p =.46) did not differ between the pre- and postintervention periods. CONCLUSIONS: A focused, educational intervention among nurses and physicians in a nonteaching community hospital resulted in a significant, sustained reduction in the incidence of catheter-associated bloodstream infection.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Clinical utility of blood cultures drawn from central vein catheters and peripheral venipuncture in critically ill medical patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of blood cultures obtained through a central vein catheter compared with peripheral venipuncture. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A medical ICU (19 beds) from a university-affiliated urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Between February 2001 and October 2001, 300 paired blood culture specimens were obtained from 119 patients (2.52 paired cultures per patient). INTERVENTION: Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-four paired culture results (11.3%; 95% confidence interval, 7.8 to 14.8%) were accepted as true-positives representing a true bacteremia. The sensitivity of catheter-drawn and peripheral venipuncture samples was 82.4% and 64.7%, respectively, and specificity was 92.5% and 95.9%. The positive predictive value was 58.3% for catheter-drawn samples and 66.7% for peripheral venipuncture samples, and the respective negative predictive values were 97.6% and 95.5%. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill medical patients, the negative predictive value of blood samples obtained by catheter draw or peripheral venipuncture for suspected bloodstream infection is good. However, the sensitivity of blood samples obtained by either catheter draw or peripheral venipuncture alone is not adequate to recommend the elimination of blood samples obtained from the other site. Clinicians should also be aware that additional blood samples may be necessary when interpreting positive blood culture results for common skin or central vein catheter contaminants.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed2003

The influence of infection on hospital mortality for patients requiring > 48 h of intensive care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of microbiologically confirmed infection on hospital mortality among patients requiring intensive care for > 48 h. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Medical ICU of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 893 patients requiring intensive care for > 48 h. INTERVENTIONS: Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three hundred seventy-two patients (41.7%) requiring intensive care for > 48 h had a microbiologically confirmed infection. Only six patients (0.7% [1.6% of patients with microbiologically confirmed infections]) received inadequate antimicrobial therapy during the first 24 h of treatment, and 248 patients (27.8%) died during hospitalization. Compared to hospital survivors, hospital nonsurvivors were significantly more likely to have a microbiologically confirmed infection (53.2% vs 37.2%, respectively; p < 0.001) and to develop severe sepsis (45.6% vs 28.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Cirrhosis and the requirement for vasopressors were the only variables identified by multiple logistic regression analysis as independent risk factors for hospital mortality in all patient groupings of severity of illness. Multiple logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that underlying malignancy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.98; 95% CI, 1.55 to 2.53), chronic renal insufficiency (AOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.31 to 1.87), cirrhosis (AOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.48 to 2.53), temperature > 38.3 degrees C (AOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.47 to 2.02), severe sepsis (AOR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.94 to 3.98), positive culture for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (AOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.09), and the presence of multiple infections (AOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.14) were independently associated with the requirement for therapy with vasopressors. CONCLUSIONS: Microbiologically confirmed infections are common among patients requiring medical intensive care for > 48 h. Despite the administration of adequate antimicrobial therapy, microbiologically confirmed infections appear to be an important cause of hemodynamic instability and increased hospital mortality. These data suggest that clinical efforts aimed at the prevention of infections and improvements in the medical management of patients with severe infections, especially those associated with hemodynamic instability and the need for vasopressors, are required to achieve further improvements in patient outcomes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in extremely preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit: characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates, characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in extremely preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the St Louis Children's Hospital on all patients who had birth weight or=48 hours from October 2000 to July 2001. Extremely preterm neonates were defined as neonates with estimated gestational age (EGA) <28 weeks. The primary outcome was the development of VAP. Secondary outcomes were death and NICU length of stay (LOS). Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine independent predictors for VAP and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 229 patients were enrolled. Sixty-seven (29%) had EGA <28 weeks. Nineteen episodes of VAP occurred in 19 (28.3%) of 67 mechanically ventilated patients. VAP rates were 6.5 per 1000 ventilator days for patients with EGA <28 weeks and 4 per 1000 ventilator days for EGA >or=28 weeks. By multivariate analysis, bloodstream infection before VAP (adjusted odds ratio: 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-10.8) was an independent risk factor for VAP after adjustment for the duration of endotracheal intubation. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.2-12.3) was an independent predictor of mortality. A strong association between VAP and mortality was observed in neonates who stayed in the NICU >30 days (relative risk: 8.0; 95% CI: 1.9-35.0). Patients with VAP also had prolonged NICU LOS (median: 138 vs 82 days). CONCLUSIONS: VAP occurred at high rates in extremely preterm neonates and was associated with increased mortality. Additional studies are needed to develop interventions to prevent VAP in NICU patients.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2003

Risk factors for surgical site infection in spinal surgery.

OBJECT: The objective of this study was to identify specific independent risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) occurring after laminectomy or spinal fusion. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective case-control study of data obtained in patients between 1996 and 1999 who had undergone laminectomy and/or spinal fusion. Forty-one patients with SSI or meningitis were identified, and data were compared with those acquired in 178 uninfected control patients. Risk factors for SSI were determined using univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression. The spinal surgery-related SSI rate (incisional and organ space) during the 4-year study period was 2.8%. Independent risk factors for SSI identified by multivariate analysis were postoperative incontinence (odds ratio [OR] 8.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9-22.8), posterior approach (OR 8.2, 95% CI 2-33.5), procedure for tumor resection (OR 6.2, 95% CI 1.7-22.3), and morbid obesity (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.9-14.2). In patients with SSI the postoperative hospital length of stay was significantly longer than that in uninfected patients (median 6 and 3 days, respectively; p < 0.001) and were readmitted to the hospital for a median additional 6 days for treatment of their infection. Repeated surgery due to the infection was required in the majority (73%) of infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative incontinence, posterior approach, surgery for tumor resection, and morbid obesity were independent risk factors predictive of SSI following spinal surgery. Interventions to reduce the risk for these potentially devastating infections need to be developed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Validation of automated event triggers using laboratory values related to two problem-prone drugs.

We used computerized alerts to identify patients with laboratory values that could be related to medication errors associated with digoxin and warfarin. Over a six-week period at two inpatient facilities, we generated 62 laboratory-based alerts for warfarin, and 66 for digoxin. The positive predictive value for these alerts representing a preventable event was 71% and 57% for warfarin and digoxin, respectively.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2003

Implementing a commercial rule base as a medication order safety net.

A commercial rule base was used to identify drug orders exceeding standard dosage limits at a university hospital. Initially, there were substantial numbers of clinically insignificant alerts. A method for altering the commercial rule base will be implemented to increase rule specificity for problematic drugs. With minor modifications, commercial rule bases can be used to rapidly create a safety net that screens drug orders for excessive dosages, while preserving the rule architecture for more finely tuned clinical decision support.

Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed2002

The business of health care epidemiology: creating a vision for service excellence.

To achieve service excellence in infection control in an era of fiscal constraint requires infection control specialists to demonstrate the value of their department in business terms to their health care administrators. Models for achieving service excellence in infection control based on cost-effective interventions found effective in our organization are described, including development and maintenance of effective teams, guidelines for structuring and implementing interventions, and establishment of business standards for excellence in health care.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2002

The risk factors for deep and superficial chest surgical-site infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery are different.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine risk factors for deep and superficial chest wound infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery to develop predictive models. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data collected on 1980 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery at our institution between January 1, 1996, and June 30, 1999, by using the Society of Thoracic Surgery database. Independent risk factors for surgical-site infection were identified with multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 37 (1.9%) deep chest and 46 (2.3%) superficial chest surgical-site infections. Obese diabetic patients had a 7.7-fold increased risk of deep chest infections after controlling for intra-aortic balloon pump use (odds ratio, 3.1) and postoperative transfusion (odds ratio, 2.3). Independent risk factors for superficial surgical-site infections included obesity (odds ratio, 3.1), diabetes in persons 65 years of age or older (odds ratio, 2.7), and current smoking (odds ratio, 2.5). Use of antiplatelet drugs was associated with a lower risk of superficial infections (odds ratio, 0.4). Predicted operative mortality as a marker of severity of illness was not clearly predictive of deep or superficial surgical-site infection. Mortality in the year after the operation was increased in patients with deep chest infections compared with that seen in uninfected control subjects (8/37 [21.6%] vs 114/1612 [7.1%], P =.004) but not in patients with superficial chest infections (7/47 [15.2%] vs 114/1612 [7.1%], P =.075). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for deep and superficial chest surgical-site infections after coronary artery bypass surgery differ, suggesting different mechanisms of pathogenesis. Appropriate risk stratification models specific to these important outcomes must be developed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Nonrandom selection and the attributable cost of surgical-site infections.

OBJECTIVE: To study the extent to which selection bias poses problems for estimating the attributable cost of deep chest surgical-site infection (SSI) following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN: Reanalysis of a prospective case-control study. SETTING: A large, Midwestern community medical center. PATIENTS: Cases were all patients who had an SSI (N = 41) following CABG and CABG and valve surgery between April 1996 and March 1998. Controls were every tenth uninfected patient (N = 160). METHODS: Estimates of the attributable cost of deep chest SSI were computed using unmatched comparison, matched comparison, linear regression, and Heckman's two-stage approach. RESULTS: The attributable cost of deep chest SSI was estimated to be $20,012 by unmatched comparison, $19,579 by matched comparison, $20,103 by linear regression, and $14,211 by Heckman's two-stage method. Controlling for selection bias substantially reduced the cost estimate, but the coefficient capturing selection bias was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Deep chest SSI significantly increases the cost of care for patients who undergo CABG surgery. Unmatched comparison, matched comparison, and linear regression estimated the attributable cost to be approximately $20,000. Although controlling for selection bias with Heckman's two-stage method resulted in a substantially smaller estimate, the coefficient for selection bias was not statistically significant, suggesting that the estimates derived from the other models should be acceptable. However, the magnitude of the difference between the models shows that the effect of selection bias can be substantial. Some exploration for selection bias is recommended when estimating the attributable cost of SSIs.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Effect of an education program on decreasing catheter-related bloodstream infections in the surgical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether an education initiative aimed at improving central venous catheter insertion and care could decrease the rate of primary bloodstream infections. DESIGN: Pre- and postintervention observational study. SETTING: Eighteen-bed surgical/burn/trauma intensive care unit (ICU) in an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 4,283 patients were admitted to the ICU between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2000. INTERVENTIONS: A program primarily directed toward registered nurses was developed by a multidisciplinary task force to highlight correct practice for central venous catheter insertion and maintenance. The program consisted of a 10-page self-study module on risk factors and practice modifications involved in catheter-related infections as well as a verbal in-service at staff meetings. Each participant was required to take a pretest before taking the study module and an identical test after its completion. Fact sheets and posters reinforcing the information in the study module were also posted throughout the ICU. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-four primary bloodstream infections occurred in 6874 catheter days (10.8 per 1000 catheter days) in the 18 months before the intervention. After the implementation of the education module, the number of primary bloodstream infections fell to 26 in 7044 catheter days (3.7 per 1000 catheter days), a decrease of 66% (p < .0001). The estimated cost savings secondary to the decreased infection rate for the 18 months after the intervention was between $185,000 and $2.808 million. CONCLUSIONS: A focused intervention primarily directed at the ICU nursing staff can lead to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of primary bloodstream infections. Educational programs may lead to a substantial decrease in cost, morbidity, and mortality attributable to central venous catheterization.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMed2002

Effect of an education program aimed at reducing the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether an education initiative could decrease the hospital rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia. DESIGN: Pre- and postintervention observational study. SETTING: Five intensive care units in Barnes-Jewish Hospital, an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients requiring mechanical ventilation who developed ventilator-associated pneumonia between October 1, 1999, and September 30, 2001. INTERVENTIONS: An education program directed toward respiratory care practitioners and intensive care unit nurses was developed by a multidisciplinary task force to highlight correct practices for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The program consisted of a ten-page self-study module on risk factors and practice modifications involved in ventilator-associated pneumonia, inservices at staff meetings, and formal didactic lectures. Each participant was required to take a preintervention test before the study module and identical postintervention tests following completion of the study module. Fact sheets and posters reinforcing the information in the study module were also posted throughout the intensive care units and the Department of Respiratory Care Services. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred ninety-one episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in 15,094 ventilator days (12.6 per 1,000 ventilator days) in the 12 months before the intervention. Following implementation of the education module, the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia decreased to 81 episodes in 14,171 ventilator days (5.7 per 1,000 ventilator days), a decrease of 57.6% (p <.001). The estimated cost savings secondary to the decreased rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia for the 12 months following the intervention were between $425,606 and $4.05 million. CONCLUSIONS: A focused education intervention can dramatically decrease the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Education programs should be more widely employed for infection control in the intensive care unit setting and can lead to substantial decreases in cost and patient morbidity attributed to hospital-acquired infections.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2002

Clinical importance of delays in the initiation of appropriate antibiotic treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of initially delayed appropriate antibiotic treatment (IDAAT) on the outcomes of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). SETTING: Medical ICU of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, a university-affiliated urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred seven consecutive patients receiving mechanical ventilation and antibiotic treatment for VAP. INTERVENTIONS: Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All 107 patients eventually received treatment with an antibiotic regimen that was shown in vitro to be active against the bacterial pathogens isolated from their respiratory secretions. Thirty-three patients (30.8%) received antibiotic treatment that was delayed for >or= 24 h after initially meeting diagnostic criteria for VAP. These patients were classified as receiving IDAAT. The most common reason for the administration of IDAAT was a delay in writing the antibiotic orders (n = 25; 75.8%). The mean time (+/- SD) interval from initially meeting the diagnostic criteria for VAP until the administration of antibiotic treatment was 28.6 +/- 5.8 h among patients classified as receiving IDAAT, compared to 12.5 +/- 4.2 h for all other patients (p < 0.001). Forty-four patients (41.1%) with VAP died during their hospitalization. Increasing APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II scores (adjusted odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 to 1.18; p < 0.001), presence of malignancy (adjusted odds ratio, 3.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.79 to 5.71; p = 0.044), and the administration of IDAAT (adjusted odds ratio, 7.68; 95% confidence interval, 4.50 to 13.09; p < 0.001) were identified as risk factors independently associated with hospital mortality by logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that patients classified as receiving IDAAT are at greater risk for hospital mortality. Clinicians should avoid delaying the administration of appropriate antibiotic treatment to patients with VAP in order to minimize their risk of mortality.

APACHE↗
PubMed2002

Factors associated with the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection among health-care workers at a midwestern teaching hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated with initiating therapy and compliance with treatment for latent tuberculosis infection among health-care workers with positive tuberculin skin test results. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: An urban midwestern teaching hospital in St. Louis, MO. STUDY POPULATION: Health-care workers with positive tuberculin skin test results. MEASUREMENTS: (1) Rates of initiating therapy for latent tuberculosis infection among all health-care workers with positive tuberculin skin test results, and (2) compliance rates with therapy for latent tuberculosis infection among health-care workers with recent tuberculin skin test conversion. RESULTS: A total of 440 tuberculin skin test-positive health-care workers were evaluated from January 1, 1994, to May 1, 2000. Of those evaluated, 1 health-care worker had presumed active tuberculosis, 1 had no record of being evaluated, 1 had missing records, and 33 were not recommended isoniazid therapy, leaving 404 workers for analysis. Overall, 396 of 404 health-care workers (98%) with positive tuberculin skin test results initiated isoniazid therapy. In univariate analysis, bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination (p = 0.02) and foreign birth (p = 0.03) were significantly associated with not initiating isoniazid therapy. Compliance data were available for 388 of 404 health-care workers (96%). Of these, 318 of 388 health-care workers (82%) were compliant with 6 months of therapy. BCG vaccination (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 7.1) and symptoms while receiving therapy (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.0 to 10.1) were significantly associated with noncompliance in multivariate analysis. Among new converters, Asian race (p = 0.006), foreign birth (p = 0.01), BCG vaccination (p = 0.006), and symptoms while receiving therapy (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with noncompliance in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: This hospital had a high rate of initiating isoniazid therapy for tuberculosis infection among their health-care workers, and a high rate of compliance with therapy. These rates of initiation and completion of isoniazid therapy were much higher than those previously reported in the literature. This may be largely due to a focused program, which includes active follow-up of health-care workers with positive tuberculin skin test results, consisting of physician counseling and monthly phone consultations by nurses, along with free services and medications provided on-site.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit patients: risk factors and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates, risk factors, and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the St Louis Children's Hospital PICU on all patients who were admitted to the PICU from September 1, 1999, to May 31, 2000, except those who died within 24 hours, were > or =18 years of age, or were neonatal intensive care unit patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The primary outcome measured was the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Secondary outcomes were death and hospital and PICU length of stay. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors for ventilator-associated pneumonia. RESULTS: There were 34 episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia in 30 patients of 911 admissions (3.3%) and 595 (5.1%) mechanically ventilated patients. The mean ventilator-associated pneumonia rate was 11.6/1000 ventilator days. By logistic regression analysis, genetic syndrome (odds ratio [OR]: 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-5.46), reintubation (OR: 2.71; 95% CI: 1.18-6.21), and transport out of the PICU (OR: 8.90; 95% CI: 3.82-20.74) independently predicted ventilator-associated pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurs at significant rates among mechanically ventilated PICU patients and is associated with processes of care. Additional studies are necessary to develop interventions to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Cross Infection↗