title: [Quality indicators in an intensive care unit: a two-year healthcare-associated infection surveillance program].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate quality healthcare indicators in an intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was conducted on all patients referred to the medical ICU of Ramón y Cajal hospital (Madrid) for more than 48 hours, from January 1 2008 to December 31 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 503 patients were included, of whom 7.4% developed a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) attributable to their stay in the ICU. The median length of stay was 5 days. A ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was observed in 1.9% of patients, with a VAP rate of 3.8 per 1,000 ventilator-days. A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) was found in 3.6% of the patients, with a CAUTI rate of 4.5 per 1,000 catheter-days. The cumulative incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) was 1.8%, with a CLABSI rate of 2.2 per 1,000 central line-days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are similar to those of other studies using the same methodology. An HAI surveillance system is a key factor for implementing a healthcare quality improvement system. The obtained indicators allow intra-comparison over time and with other similar hospitals, the monitoring of infection control measures, and thus an effective improvement in healthcare quality and patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España. mjose.pitalo@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pita
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Agero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robustillo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology