Infection control for critically ill trauma patients: a systematic approach to prevention, detection, and provider feedback.
Critically ill patients are particularly at risk for developing hospital-acquired infections. An understanding of the predisposing factors, the epidemiology of disease, and guidelines to treat and to prevent hospital-acquired infections is necessary to incorporate infection control into the daily care of the critically ill trauma patient. Although it remains a challenge, infection control programs have moved from providing surveillance data and guidelines recommendations to implementation and engagement programs aimed at a shared responsibility for hospital-acquired infections prevention. We describe a multidisciplinary approach to infection control in the critically ill trauma patient with a special focus on ventilator-associated pneumonia at a level 1 trauma and burn center.
Departments of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Heather L
HL
Evans
Elizabeth
E
McNamara
John B
JB
Lynch
Jeannie D
JD
Chan
Mark
M
Taylor
Timothy H
TH
Dellit
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014861:Washington; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*