title: Controlling blood glucose levels to reduce infection.
abstract: Achieving and maintaining tight glucose control in the critically ill patient is becoming the standard of care across the country. It is well established that hyperglycemia is common in critically ill patients, and recent studies have shown a possible connection between hyperglycemia and the ability to fight infection. Healthcare providers face many challenges when choosing to implement this evidence-based practice into their standard of patient care. The purpose of this article is to share one hospital's collaborative approach to tight glucose control.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, Houston, Tex 77074, USA. Elain.presutti@memorialhermann.org
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Presutti
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millo
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin