title: A European survey of nosocomial infection control and hospital-acquired pneumonia prevention practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to examine organizational, structural and routine infection control measures provided by European ICUs and staff practices in ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention in relation with current recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  European ICU staffs were invited to complete a web-based 20 closed-item questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  675 nurses and 886 physicians from 13 countries answered the questionnaire. Median number of respondents per country was 118.0 (64.5-155.5). Availability and organizational aspects of infection control revealed wide variations between countries. Among them, single-patient rooms was the aspect with the lowest availability (median availability 38%), but the largest variation ranging from 15 to 84%. Self-reported median adherence rate to recommendations was 72% (34.5-83.0) with a strong correlation between nurses and physicians responses (r² = 0.96; p < 0.0001). Sub-glottic drainage (31%), and infrequent ventilatory-circuit change (24%) were the measures with the lowest adherence rate whereas preferential use of oral intubation (90%) and of NIV (84%) and use of HMEs (82%) were the three with the highest rate. Organization of infection control was consistently self-reported. Disparities among countries were more frequent for specific actions regarding airway management, and even moreso for controversial issues (subglottic drainage, closed-suction systems).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This European survey shows a 72% overall adherence rate to VAP prevention measures; with strong agreements between physician and nurses but considerable differences among countries for availability and organization aspects of infection control, providing healthcare authorities with figures for future programs.
authors: AP-HP, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Service de Réanimation Médicale, Colombes, France. jean-damien.ricard@lmr.aphp.fr
authors: Jean-Damien
authors: JD
authors: Ricard
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Conti
authors: Maud
authors: M
authors: Boucherie
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Hormann
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Poelaert
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Quintel
authors: Sten
authors: S
authors: Rubertsson
authors: Antoni
authors: A
authors: Torres
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006282:Health Personnel; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires