Symptom word documentation: A novel approach to identifying and managing hospital-acquired infections.
An interprofessional team developed a symptom word documentation tool based on surveillance definitions for specific types of infections published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nursing documentation was monitored pre- and postimplementation of the tool, revealing increased compliance with symptom documentation. Although symptom word documentation does not reduce the number of infections, it may impact the central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate by better differentiating CLABSI from other infection sources, as was observed in this institution.
The Division of Nursing, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address: kdcarry@mdanderson.org.
Kim
K
Carry-Littles
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The Department of Infection Control, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Kim
K
Nguyen
The Division of Nursing, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Todd
T
Rowe
The Division of Nursing, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Patricia A
PA
Johnston
The Division of Nursing, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Kelly
K
Brassil
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D019468:Disease Management; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans
Central line–associated bloodstream infection; differentiating infections; documentation; symptoms