title: Reducing the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia in cardiovascular surgery patients.
abstract: Outcomes management provides a mechanism to foster development of patient-driven services through revision of practice and measurement of outcomes. Because nosocomial pneumonia is the most common hospital-acquired infection in intensive care units, reducing the rate of nosocomial pneumonia became on area of intense scrutiny at our institution. This article shares an outcome initiative that focused on reducing the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia in a hospital setting. Strategies used such as multidisciplinary team formation, case/control study, quality improvement activities, risk tool development, and protocol implementation, are discussed. Process and outcome data are provided to demonstrate the initiative's positive impact. The benefits of this outcome effort are easily identified and well-illustrated. The backbone of the initiative--proactive identification of problems and the methodical, reasoned search for answers--is universally applicable.
authors.affiliation: Center of Integrated Care, St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Layne O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pruitt
authors.forename: Thanh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Firas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zabaneh
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sabo
mesh_terms: D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D008485:Medical Audit; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000592:standards; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D002710:Chlorhexidine