title: Process improvement plan for the reduction of nosocomial pneumonia in patients on ventilators.
abstract: Pneumonia is a frequently occurring nosocomial infection that often results in serious illness and death of the patient. In one hospital, after the discovery of a ventilator-associated nosocomial infection rate that was higher than the national standard, a multidisciplinary team was formed. The team followed the FOCUS-PDCA model of quality improvement to identify methods to improve the nosocomial pneumonia infection rate for mechanically ventilated patients. Three areas of potential improvement were identified: trial of a closed suction system, policies and procedures for cleaning of ventilators, and staff education. Additionally, a research project was conducted to identify predictors of ventilator-associated nosocomial pneumonia. These projects resulted in a reduction of the ventilator-associated nosocomial pneumonia infection rate to 8.3/ 1,000 ventilator days and a cost savings of more than $580,000.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Department, St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicotra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors