title: Impact of an educational intervention implanted in a neurological intensive care unit on rates of infection related to external ventricular drains.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on the implantation of care routines showed reduction on EVD catheter-related infections rates; however zero tolerance is difficult to be achieved. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on the maximal reduction on rates of EVD-related infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quasi-experimental (before-after intervention) study occurred in two phases: pre-intervention, from April 2007 to July 2008, and intervention, from August 2008 to July 2010. Patients were followed for 30 days after the removal of the EVD, and EVD-related infections were considered as only those with laboratorial confirmation in the CSF. Observations were made of the care of the EVD and compliance with Hygiene of the Hands (HH), a routine of care was drawn up, training was given, and intervention was made to reduce the time the EVD catheter remained in place.
  
  
  RESULTS
  during the study, 178 patients were submitted to 194 procedures, corresponding to 1217 EVD catheters-day. Gram-negative agents were identified in 71.4% of the infections during the pre-intervention period and in 60% during the intervention period. During the study, EVD-related infection rates were reduced from 9.5% to 4.8% per patient, from 8.8% to 4.4% per procedure, and the incidence density dropped from 14.0 to 6.9 infections per 1000 catheters-day (p = 0.027). The mortality reduced 12% (from 42% to 30%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During one year after the fourth intervention, no microbiologically identified infection was documented. In light of these results, educational intervention proved to be a useful tool in reducing these rates and showed also impact on mortality.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital das Clinicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo Fernandes
authors: EF
authors: Camacho
authors: Icaro
authors: I
authors: Boszczowski
authors: Maristela Pinheiro
authors: MP
authors: Freire
authors: Fernando Campos Gomes
authors: FC
authors: Pinto
authors: Thais
authors: T
authors: Guimaraes
authors: Manuel Jacobsen
authors: MJ
authors: Teixeira
authors: Silvia Figueiredo
authors: SF
authors: Costa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D058565:Cerebral Ventriculitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged; D009462:Neurology; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000639:trends
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