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Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents a major, global, unmet health need with few treatments. A significant minority of ICH patients present taking an anticoagulant; both vitamin-K antagonists and increasingly direct oral anticoagulants. Anticoagulants are associated with an increased risk of hematoma expansion, and rapid reversal reduces this risk and may improve outcome. Vitamin-K antagonists are reversed with prothrombin complex concentrate, dabigatran with idarucizumab, and anti-Xa agents with PCC or andexanet alfa, where available. Blood pressure lowering may reduce hematoma growth and improve clinical outcomes and careful (avoiding reductions ≥60 mm Hg within 1 h), targeted (as low as 120–130 mm Hg), and sustained (minimizing variability) treatment during the first 24 h may be optimal for achieving better functional outcomes in mild-to-moderate severity acute ICH. Surgery for ICH may include hematoma evacuation and external ventricular drainage to treat hydrocephalus. No large, well-conducted phase III trial of surgery in ICH has so far shown overall benefit, but meta-analyses report an increased likelihood of good functional outcome and lower risk of death with surgery, compared to medical treatment only. Expert supportive care on a stroke unit or critical care unit improves outcomes. Early prognostication is difficult, and early do-not-resuscitate orders or withdrawal of active care should be used judiciously in the first 24–48 h of care. Implementation of acute ICH care can be challenging, and using a care bundle approach, with regular monitoring of data and improvement of care processes can ensure consistent and optimal care for all patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented strains on healthcare systems around the world. Challenges surrounding an overwhelming influx of patients with COVID-19 and changes in care dynamics prompt the need for care models and processes that optimize care in this medically complex patient population. The purpose of this report is to describe our institution's strategy to deploy pharmacy resources and standardize pharmacy processes to optimize the management of patients with COVID-19. Methods This retrospective, descriptive report characterizes documented pharmacy interventions in the acute care of patients admitted for COVID-19 during the period April 1 to April 15, 2020. Patient monitoring, interprofessional communication, and intervention documentation by pharmacy staff was facilitated through the development of a COVID-19–specific care bundle integrated into the electronic medical record. Results A total of 1,572 pharmacist interventions were documented in 197 patients who received a total of 15,818 medication days of therapy during the study period. The average number of interventions per patient was 8. The most common interventions were regimen simplification (15.9%), timing and dosing adjustments (15.4%), and antimicrobial therapy and COVID-19 treatment adjustments (15.2%). Patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit care at any point during their hospital stay accounted for 66.7% of all interventions documented. Conclusion A pharmacy department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was optimized through standardized processes. Pharmacists intervened to address a wide scope of medication-related issues, likely contributing to improved management of COVID-19 patients. Results of our analysis demonstrate the vital role pharmacists play as members of multidisciplinary teams during times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-acquired pneumonia is a common clinical problem requiring admission to hospital, with a particularly high incidence in the elderly population and those with significant comorbidities. Diagnosis is made on the combination of a short history of respiratory symptoms and systemic ill-health with new examination and/or radiological features of consolidation. Multiple other infective and non-infective conditions can mimic community-acquired pneumonia, leading to misdiagnosis in 5–17% of cases. The CURB-65 score can identify patients with community-acquired pneumonia with a higher risk of mortality, but is insensitive at identifying patients requiring intensive care support and needs to be combined with clinical markers of potential severity. Both high admission levels of C-reactive protein and the failure of levels of C-reactive protein to decline by >50% by day 4 after admission are associated with higher risk of complications, need for ventilation or inotropic support, and mortality. Empirical antibiotic therapy for most patients admitted to hospital is combination of a ß-lactam and a macrolide. Short courses of antibiotics do not result in significantly different outcomes to longer courses unless the patient has developed complications such as a complex parapneumonic effusion. Implementation of a community-acquired pneumonia care bundle into clinical practice reduces mortality, and should be a high priority for all acute hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elizabeth A Duffy, Kathryn N Nelson Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, The University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Abstract: A central venous catheter (CVC) is an indwelling catheter that provides permanent or temporary stable venous access for both acute and chronically ill pediatric patients. These catheters provide stable venous access that can be used for a variety of medical purposes including drawing blood, hemodynamic monitoring, infusion of intravenous medications, infusion of intravenous fluids, chemotherapy, blood products, and parenteral nutrition. Each day, nurses access and care for CVCs in infants, children, and adolescents; the precision of this care can prevent life-threatening complications. The purpose of this review and the case study is to highlight the importance and components of evidence-based nursing practice in pediatric CVC care. A historical perspective of CVC care is provided in conjunction with current national initiatives to improve patient outcomes for children with CVCs. Infection prevention, clinical practice guidelines, quality improvement, and evidence-based care bundles are discussed. Keywords: pediatric nursing, central venous catheters, central line-associated bloodstream infection, care bundles, pediatric case study

Over the past decade, there have been major improvements to the care of mechanically ventilated patients (MVPs). Earlier initiatives used the concept of ventilator care bundles (sets of interventions), with a primary focus on reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, recent evidence has led to a more comprehensive approach: The ABCDE bundle (Awakening and Breathing trial Coordination, Delirium management and Early mobilization). The approach of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) was developed by patient safety researchers at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to improve local safety cultures and to learn from defects by utilizing a validated structured framework. In August 2015, 17 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) (a total of 271 beds) in eight hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the CUSP for MVPs (CUSP 4 MVP) that was conducted in 235 ICUs in 169 US hospitals and led by the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. The CUSP 4 MVP project will set the stage for cooperation between multiple hospitals and thus strives to create a countrywide plan for the management of all MVPs in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the commonest respiratory disease in the UK, accounting for 10% of emergency hospital admissions annually. Nearly one-third of patients are re-admitted within 28 days of discharge. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of introducing standardised packages of care (i.e. care bundles) as a means of improving hospital care and reducing re-admissions for COPD. Design: A mixed-methods evaluation with a controlled before-and-after design. Participants: Adults admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of COPD in England and Wales. Intervention: COPD care bundles. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was re-admission to hospital within 28 days of discharge. The study investigated secondary outcomes including length of stay, total number of bed-days, in-hospital mortality, 90-day mortality, context, process and costs of care, and staff, patient and carer experience. Data sources: Routine NHS data, including numbers of COPD admissions and re-admissions, in-hospital mortality and length of stay data, were provided by 31 sites for 12 months before and after the intervention roll-out. Detailed pseudo-anonymised data on care during admission were collected from a subset of 14 sites, in addition to information about delivery of individual components of care collected from random samples of medical records at each location. Six case study sites provided data from interviews, observation and documentary review to explore implementation, engagement and perceived impact on delivery of care. Results: There is no evidence that care bundles reduced 28-day re-admission rates for COPD. All-cause re-admission rates, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, total number of bed-days, and re-admission and mortality rates in the 90 days following discharge were similar at implementation and comparator sites, as were resource utilisation, NHS secondary care costs and cost-effectiveness of care. However, the rate of emergency department (ED) attendances decreased more in implementation sites than in comparator sites {implementation: incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56 to 0.70]; comparator: IRR 1.14 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.26) interaction p

To study whether allowing adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic or oncologic diseases admitted to tertiary or intensive care units to share decisions in choosing the insertion site for central-venous catheters (CVC) implanted for intravenous therapies or parenteral nutrition reduces central-line-associated and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CLABSI and CRBSI). Following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically reviewed the literature by searching MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to December 2019. According to our aims, the review identified no study that could be included. This empty systematic review on healthcare teams allowing AYA with chronic or oncologic diseases admitted in tertiary or intensive care units to share decisions in choosing the site for implanting CVC prompts further research on clinical pathways on this hot-topic. By considering purportedly risk-taking behaviors in youngsters thus reducing CLABSI and CRBSI, healthcare teams should test specific strategies by engaging AYA empathetically in sharing decisions on the site for implanting CVC to improve quality in health care bundles., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Hospital-acquired infections are common in neurointensive care units. We sought to review interventions which may reduce infection rates in neurocritically ill populations. We conducted a systematic review of studies targeting adult patients in neuro-intensive care units (neuro-ICUs) with an intervention designed to prevent ICU-acquired infections. Our outcome of interest was change in the prevalence or rates of infection between active and control arms of these studies. We excluded studies based on the following criteria: no English full-text version available; pediatric population; non-neurosciences ICU population; pre- or intraoperative methods to prevent infection; lack of discrete data for infection rates/prevalence; studies that were purely observational in nature and did not test an intervention; and studies performed in resource limited settings. We initially retrieved 3716 results by searching the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE via Ovid, and Cochrane CENTRAL via Ovid. No date or language limits were used in the search. Computerized deduplication was conducted using EndNote followed by a confirmatory manual review resulting in 3414 citations. An additional 19 manuscripts were identified through review of references. The screening process followed a standard protocol, using two screeners at the title/abstract level to determine relevance and at the full-text level to determine eligibility for inclusion. The 3427 titles/abstracts were independently screened by two board-certified neurointensivists to determine relevance for full-text review, and 3248 were rejected. The remaining 179 abstracts were reviewed in full text using predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Ultimately, 75 articles met our inclusion criteria and were utilized in the final analysis. The reviewed literature highlights the need for collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and multi-pronged approaches to reduce infections. Rates of VRI, SSI, VAP, CAUTI, and CLABSI can approach zero with persistence and a team-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of adverse events during a multifaceted program implementation.Design: Cross-sectional secondary analysis.Setting: The respiratory-ICU of a large tertiary care center.Participants: Retrospectively collected data of patients admitted from 1 March 2010 to 28 February 2014 (usual care period) and from 1 March 2014 to 1 March 2017 (multifaceted program period) were used.Interventions: The program integrated three components: (1) strategic planning and organizational culture imprint; (2) training and practice and (3) implementation of care bundles. Strategic planning redefined the respiratory-ICU Mission and Vision, its SWOT matrix (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) as well as its medium to long-term aims and planned actions. A 'Wear the Institution's T-shirt' monthly conference was given in order to foster organizational culture in healthcare personnel. Training was conducted on hand hygiene and projects 'Pneumonia Zero' and 'Bacteremia Zero'. Finally, actions of both projects were implemented.Main Outcome Measures: Rates of adverse events (episodes per 1000 patient/days).Results: Out of 1662 patients (usual care, n = 981; multifaceted program, n = 681) there was a statistically significant reduction during the multifaceted program in episodes of accidental extubation ([Rate ratio, 95% CI] 0.31, 0.17-0.55), pneumothorax (0.48, 0.26-0.87), change of endotracheal tube (0.17, 0.07-0.44), atelectasis (0.37, 0.20-0.68) and death in the ICU (0.82, 0.69-0.97).Conclusions: A multifaceted program including strategic planning, organizational culture imprint and care protocols was associated with a significant reduction of adverse events in the respiratory-ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in neonates is associated with nasal injury (NI) for which various risk factors related to the neonatal characteristics and properties of interfaces used have been reported. "Privileging" of nursing staff may influence safety and incidence of adverse events. In this prospective cohort study, authors studied the incidence of NI and risk factors for NI in babies requiring CPAP after privileging staff for CPAP care bundles.Methods: All neonates on CPAP over a 6-mo period were included. Standard operating procedures were formulated and staff of NICU (nurses and doctors) were educated at the start of the study and periodically in 6 comprehensive areas of care- encompassing position of head, prongs and cap; nasal suctioning and interruptions in pressure on the nose. The staff who completed the training and evaluation were declared as "privileged". NI (measured by a standard staging) and risk factors were predefined and studied.Results: Of the 51 babies who required respiratory supports, 35 required CPAP care. Nine babies (25%) out of 35 who required CPAP had NI (2, 4, 3 babies had stages 1, II and III of NI respectively). Seventy seven percent of babies were cared for by privileged nurses. NI was significantly higher when cared for by non-privileged staff (66% vs. 11%, unadjusted RR = 6.75, 95%CI 2.16-21.09). All other risk factors were not significant.Conclusions: NI was noted in 25% neonates on CPAP, and those cared for by non-privileged staff had higher chances of NI. Quality processes and emphasis on continued monitoring and evaluation of nursing skills may help prevent these untoward complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract In 2014–2015 the NHS carried out 9.9 million operations. Hospital-acquired infection (HAI) though, continues to be a major challenge, with 300,000 patients a year affected. The human cost is enormous, but so is the financial cost; HAIs are estimated to cost the NHS approximately £1–2 billion a year, with £56 million of this estimated to be incurred after patients are discharged from hospital. Many HAI are preventable, and this article aims to support the surgeon and team in reducing HAI in the surgical pathway, by reviewing the role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the development of a HAI, to enable prevention/mitigation strategies to be put in place to ensure the safest possible care pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effects of bundle-care interventions on pressure ulcers in patients with stroke to provide a basis for clinical work. Randomised controlled trials on the effects of bundle-care interventions in patients with stroke were identified using computerised searches of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP and Wanfang databases, from the time of inception of each database to July 2023, supplemented by manual literature searches. Two researchers independently retrieved and screened the articles, extracted the data and evaluated the quality of the included studies. After reaching consensus, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Twenty-four papers were included, involving 3330 patients of whom 1679 were in the intervention group and 1651 were in the control group. The results showed that, compared with standard care, bundle-care interventions significantly reduced the incidence of pressure ulcers (3.28% vs. 14.84%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-0.26, p < 0.001), and aspiration (5.60% vs. 18.84%, OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.17-0.39, p < 0.001), and improved patient satisfaction with nursing care (96.59% vs. 84.43%, OR. 5.45, 95% CI: 3.76-7.90, p < 0.001). Current evidence suggests that care bundles are significantly better than conventional nursing measures in preventing pressure ulcers and aspiration, and improving patient satisfaction with nursing care in patients with stroke, and are worthy of clinical promotion and application., (© 2023 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to develop, validate and apply a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention checklist in a single cardiac surgery centre. Methods An initial checklist was designed based on the published care bundles for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia; the Delphi method used for validation. A total of 20 experts were invited to score the items and give suggestions for the checklist. The final checklist was then applied to patients receiving cardiac surgery. Non-compliance with the protocol and outcome indicators were observed. Results Two rounds of Delphi were conducted. The final one-page checklist consisted of three main parts: (1) demographic data of the patient receiving cardiac surgery; (2) general assessment of the patient (3) checklist of prevention measures. The average time to complete the checklist was between two and four minutes. After the application of the checklist, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia decreased from 14.48 to 5.47 episodes per thousand ventilator hours. In patients requiring >48 hours mechanical ventilation, the ventilator-associated pneumonia rate and duration of ventilation was significantly decreased. Conclusion A checklist was developed for ventilator associated pneumonia based on care bundles and validated using the Delphi method. The checklist appeared to be a useful tool in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia and shortening the ventilation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac surgical site infections (SSIs) have devastating consequences and present several challenges for patients and healthcare providers. Adult cardiac SSI surveillance commenced in 2009 at our hospitals, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, as a patient safety initiative amid reported increased incidence of SSIs. Before this time, infection incidence was unclear because data collection was not standardized.Aim: To standardize SSI data collection and establish baseline SSI rates to facilitate deployment of evidence-based targeted interventions within clinical governance structures to improve quality, safety, and efficiency in line with our organizational targets.Methods: We standardized local data collection protocols in line with Public Health England recommendations and identified local champions. We undertook prospective SSI surveillance collaboratively to enable us to identify potential practice concerns and address them more effectively through a series of initiatives. Clinical staff completed dedicated surveillance forms intraoperatively and postoperatively.Findings: Overall adult cardiac SSI rates fell from 5.4% in 2009 to 1.2% in 2016 and coronary artery bypass graft rates from 6.5% in 2009 to 1.7% in 2016 (P < 0.001). Gram-negative bacteria were recognized as important SSI causative organisms and were better controlled after introducing stringent infection control measures.Conclusion: Comprehensive, evidence-based infection control practices were successfully implemented through a multidisciplinary collaborative approach, which may have great potential to reduce Gram-negative, Staphylococcus aureus, polymicrobial and overall SSI burden and/or associated costs. We now investigate all SSIs using an established SSI detailed investigation protocol to promote continual quality improvement that aligns us perfectly with global efforts to fight antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospitalisation and increased healthcare costs. Care bundles have reduced CLABSIs in adult intensive care units (ICUs) but replication in paediatric ICUs has had inconsistent outcomes. A systematic review was performed to assess the evidence for the efficacy of care bundles in reducing CLABSIs in the neonatal unit (NNU).Methods: MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE were searched from January 2010 up to January 2017. The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Zetoc and Ethos were searched for additional studies. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental and observational studies were eligible. The primary outcome measure was CLABSI rates per 1000 central line, or patient, days. A meta-analysis was performed using random effects modelling.Results: Twenty-four studies were eligible for inclusion: six were performed in Europe, 12 were in North America, two in Australia and four were in low/middle-income countries. Five were observational studies and 19 were before and after quality improvement studies. No RCTs were found. Meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in CLABSIs following the introduction of care bundles (rate ratio=0.40 (CI 0.31 to 0.51), p<0.00001), which equates to a 60% reduction in CLABSI rate.Conclusion: There is a substantial body of quasi-experimental evidence to suggest that care bundles may reduce CLABSI rates in the NNU, though it is not clear which bundle elements are effective in specific settings. Future research should focus on determining what processes promote the effective implementation of infection prevention recommendations, and which elements represent essential components of such care bundles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Problem: Pressure injuries increase the cost of medical care and prolong hospitalization. The incidence of pressure injury at the target coronary care unit (CCU) from January to August 2016 was 1.1%, which was significantly higher than the 0.4% defined in the 2015 Taiwan Clinical Performance Indicators (TCPI) system. Medical device related pressure injury (MDRPI) accounted for 73.1% of the pressure injuries (incidence: 0.8%). The main causes of the high incidence of MDRPI were: (1) inadequate decompression dressing and restraint equipment, (2) incomplete implementation of prevention interventions in the CCU, (3) inadequate knowledge of MDRPI prevention among nurses, (4) deficient standards for preventing MDRPI, (5) ineffective MDRPI-related education, and (6) insufficient auditing frequencies. Purpose: To reduce the incidence of MDRPI in the target CCU to 0.4% or less. Resolution: Promote a seed-teacher system and a care bundle that "increased skin tolerance, decompression, medical dressing, change, and removal" using education, the adoption of PE-foam binding gloves, and regular audits. Results: The incidence of MDRPI was reduced from 0.8% to 0.3% between October 2016 and April 2017 and further reduced to 0.1% during the maintenance phase between May and July 2017. Conclusions: The results indicate that the improvement program effectively reduced the incidence of MDRPI and thus increased the quality of nursing care. Therefore, the use of a care bundles should be promoted in intensive care units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritonitis is a leading cause of hospitalizations, morbidity, and modality change in pediatric chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) patients. Despite guidelines published by the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis aimed at reducing the risk of peritonitis, registry data have revealed significant variability in peritonitis rates among centers caring for children on CPD, which suggests variability in practice. Improvement science methods have been used to reduce a variety of healthcare-associated infections and are also being applied successfully to decrease rates of peritonitis in children. A successful quality improvement program with the goal of decreasing peritonitis will not only include primary drivers directly linked to the outcome of peritonitis, but will also direct attention to secondary drivers that are important for the achievement of primary drivers, such as health literacy and patient and family engagement strategies. In this review, we describe a comprehensive improvement science model for the reduction of peritonitis in pediatric patients on CPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for people with dementia in acute settings is challenging and confounded by multiple comorbidities and difficulties transitioning between community and acute care. Recently, there has been an increase in the development and use of integrated care pathways (ICPs) and care bundles for defined illnesses and medical procedures, and these are now being promoted for use in dementia care in acute settings. We present a review of the literature on ICPs and/or care bundles for dementia care in the acute sector. This includes a literature overview including “gray literature” such as relevant websites, reports, and government publications. Taken together, there is clearly a growing interest in and clinical use of ICPs and care bundles for dementia. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of ICPs for dementia care in acute settings and limited evidence for care bundles for dementia in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical site infection (SSI) contributes significantly to surgical morbidity. Patient factors and operative factors contribute to the risk of development of SSI. This review focuses on understanding operative characteristics that are associated with an increased risk of SSI. Much attention has been given to protocol care to reduce SSI, such as hair removal, skin preparation, and pre-operative antibiotic agents. Even with this, the appropriate antibiotic and re-dosing regimens often remain a challenge. Other operative factors such as blood loss/transfusion, emergency/urgent cases, duration of the operation, type of anesthesia, and resident involvement are also potentially modifiable to reduce the risk of SSI. Data are reviewed to highlight the increased risk associated with such factors. Strategies to reduce risk, such as operative care bundles, have significant promise to reduce the incidence of SSI for any given procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, there have been major improvements to the care of mechanically ventilated patients (MVPs). Earlier initiatives used the concept of ventilator care bundles (sets of interventions), with a primary focus on reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, recent evidence has led to a more comprehensive approach: The ABCDE bundle (Awakening and Breathing trial Coordination, Delirium management and Early mobilization). The approach of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) was developed by patient safety researchers at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to improve local safety cultures and to learn from defects by utilizing a validated structured framework. In August 2015, 17 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) (a total of 271 beds) in eight hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the CUSP for MVPs (CUSP 4 MVP) that was conducted in 235 ICUs in 169 US hospitals and led by the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. The CUSP 4 MVP project will set the stage for cooperation between multiple hospitals and thus strives to create a countrywide plan for the management of all MVPs in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper observe the effect of care bundles in prevention of postoperative wound infection among patients undergoing surgical treatment for spinal tuberculosis. A total of 82 patients undergoing surgical treatment for spinal tuberculosis were included in this study. The high-quality nursing bundles were carried out, including psychosocial care, diet and sleep guidance, respiratory management, catheter management, prevention of digestive track complications, prevention of pressure ulcer, functional exercise. There was no case of postoperative wound infection. The application of care bundles is potentially effective in prevention of postoperative wound infection after surgical treatment for spinal tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the association of improved patient safety practices with medical malpractice claims and costs in the perinatal units of acute care hospitals.Data Sources: Malpractice and harm data from participating hospitals; litigation records and medical malpractice claims data from American Excess Insurance Exchange, RRG, whose data are managed by Premier Insurance Management Services, Inc. (owned by Premier Inc., a health care improvement company).Study Design: A quasi-experimental prospective design to compare baseline and postintervention data. Statistical significance tests for differences were performed using chi-square, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and t-test.Data Collection: Claims data were collected and evaluated by experienced senior claims managers through on-site claim audits to evaluate claim frequency, severity, and financial information. Data were provided to the analyzing institution through confidentiality contracts.Principal Findings: There is a significant reduction in the number of perinatal malpractice claims paid, losses paid, and indemnity payments (43.9 percent, 77.6 percent, and 84.6 percent, respectively) following interventions to improve perinatal patient safety and reduce perinatal harm. This compares with no significant reductions in the nonperinatal claims in the same hospitals during the same time period.Conclusions: The number of perinatal malpractice claims and dollar amount of claims payments decreased significantly in the participating hospitals, while there was no significant decrease in nonperinatal malpractice claims activity in the same hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis has gained increasing publicity in recent years, and there is now a strong focus of clinical education and training following the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. The assessment and management of a septic patients is far from simple and requires a systematic approach in both identifying and managing the condition. This second part explores sepsis care bundles and the research that underpins each of the interventions. These discussions will enable nurses to understand why each component of the sepsis care bundle is important and thus enable them to rapidly prioritise care, as early effective interventions have been shown to optimise patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the difference in effect on transfusion bundle compliance between two Audit and Feedback (A&F) strategies to implement the transfusion bundle.Design and Setting: This implementation study was conducted in an ICU of a university hospital from May to December 2014. The ICU consists of two nursing teams containing 63 and 62 nurses.Participants: All ICU nurses participated in this study.Intervention: Monthly A&F on team level versus a combination of monthly A&F on team level plus timely individual feedback.Measurements: The primary outcome was bundle compliance. Compliance was measured after every single transfusion.Results: Monthly A&F on team level with timely individual A&F significantly improves bundle compliance during implementation compared to monthly A&F on team level alone. The overall effect of compliance during the study period was significantly higher with an OR of 4.05 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.62 to 10.08), P < 0.001. This indicates that when using the combined A&F strategy nurses are more likely to be compliant to the bundle than when monthly A&F was used alone.Conclusions: Compared to monthly team A&F alone, providing timely individual A&F plus monthly A&F on team level significantly improves the success of implementing a transfusion bundle on the ICU during the implementation period. Providing timely individual A&F plus monthly A&F on team level might also be effective for the implementation of other bundles in healthcare. Future research could elaborate on longer duration of the intervention, the use of information and computer technology to lower costs of the intervention, and to enhance sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortality rates for severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) range from 17 to 48 % in published studies.In this review, we searched PubMed for relevant papers published between 1981 and June 2016 and relevant files. We explored how early and aggressive management measures, implemented within 24 hours of recognition of severe CAP and carried out both in the emergency department and in the ICU, decrease mortality in severe CAP.These measures begin with the use of severity assessment tools and the application of care bundles via clinical decision support tools. The bundles include early guideline-concordant antibiotics including macrolides, early haemodynamic support (lactate measurement, intravenous fluids, and vasopressors), and early respiratory support (high-flow nasal cannulae, lung-protective ventilation, prone positioning, and neuromuscular blockade for acute respiratory distress syndrome).While the proposed interventions appear straightforward, multiple barriers to their implementation exist. To successfully decrease mortality for severe CAP, early and close collaboration between emergency medicine and respiratory and critical care medicine teams is required. We propose a workflow incorporating these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading cause of death with hospital-acquired infections, and preventing it is one of the Saving Lives initiatives (Department of Health 2007). This article discusses the implementation of a purpose-designed VAP care bundle in a children's intensive care unit and examines the unique role of nurses in the management of the change process. A nurse-led VAP education, implementation and surveillance programme was set up. Nurse education was paramount, as nursing staff acceptance and involvement was a key feature. A multi-method training strategy was implemented, providing staff with multiple training opportunities and introducing VAP project education as a routine part of staff induction. Bundle compliance was monitored regularly and graphs of the results produced quarterly; feedback proved to be useful in keeping staff informed and engaged in VAP reduction. Comparison of VAP incidence before and after introduction of the care bundle showed a reduction after its implementation. With a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary approach, VAP care bundles can result in significant and sustained reductions in VAP rates in the paediatric intensive care unit. Effective co-ordination and leadership is crucial to successful implementation of the VAP bundle, and nurses are well placed to undertake this role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a frequent hospital acquired infections among intensive care unit patients. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has suggested a “care bundle” approach for the prevention of VAP. This report describes the effects of implementing this strategy on VAP rates. Methods All mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the intensive care unit between 2008 and 2013 were prospectively followed for VAP development according to the National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. In 2011, a 7-element care bundle was implemented, including head-of-bed elevation 30°-45°, daily sedation vacation and assessment for extubation, peptic ulcer disease prophylaxis, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, oral care with chlorhexidine, endotracheal intubation with in-line suction and subglottic suctioning, and maintenance of endotracheal tube cuff pressure at 20-30 mmHg. The bundle compliance and VAP rates were then followed. Results A total of 3665 patients received mechanical ventilation, and there were 9445 monitored observations for bundle compliance. The total bundle compliance before and after initiation of the VAP team was 90.7% and 94.2%, respectively ( P < .001). The number of VAP episodes decreased from 144 during 2008-2010 to only 14 during 2011-2013 ( P < .0001). The rate of VAP decreased from 8.6 per 1000 ventilator-days to 2.0 per 1000 ventilator-days ( P < .0001) after implementation of the care bundle. Conclusions This study suggests that systematic implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach can reduce the incidence of VAP. Further sustained improvement requires persistent vigilant inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the commonest respiratory diseases in the United Kingdom, accounting for 10% of unplanned hospital admissions each year. Nearly a third of these admitted patients are re-admitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge. Whilst there is a move within the NHS to ensure that people with long-term conditions receive more co-ordinated care, there is little research evidence to support an optimum approach to this in COPD. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of introducing standardised packages of care i.e. care bundles, for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD as a means of improving hospital care and reducing re-admissions.Methods/ Design: This mixed-methods evaluation will use a controlled before-and-after design to examine the effect of, and costs associated with, implementing care bundles for patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of COPD, compared with usual care. It will quantitatively measure a range of patient and organisational outcomes for two groups of hospitals - those who deliver care using COPD care bundles, and those who deliver care without the use of COPD care bundles. These care bundles may be provided for patients with COPD following admission, prior to discharge or at both points in the care pathway. The primary outcome will be re-admission to hospital within 28 days of discharge, although the study will additionally investigate a number of secondary outcomes including length of stay, total bed days, in-hospital mortality, costs of care and patient / carer experience. A series of nested qualitative case studies will explore in detail the context and process of care as well as the impact of COPD bundles on staff, patients and carers.Discussion: The results of the study will provide information about the effectiveness of care bundles as a way of managing in-hospital care for patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD. Given the number of unplanned hospital admissions for this patient group and their rate of subsequent re-admission, it is hoped that this evaluation will make a timely contribution to the evidence on care provision, to the benefit of patients, clinicians, managers and policy-makers.Trial Registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials - ISRCTN13022442 - 11 February 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nursing of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nursing of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nursing of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a growing public health concern, one that costs the health care system $190-$720 million each year. Recently, state-level perinatal quality collaborative groups have disseminated NAS action plans: customizable frameworks aimed to assist health care systems in identifying, evaluating, treating, and coordinating discharge services for neonates with NAS. Hospital-based neonatal nursing quality improvement teams, including neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs), neonatal clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and clinical neonatal nurses, by virtue of their collective academic, administrative, and practical years of experience, are ideally positioned to develop, implement, and evaluate NAS care bundles. The article's purpose is to discuss key elements of an NAS care bundle using the framework of the Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina NAS action plan as an exemplar. Discussion of evidence-based and nursing-driven metrics will be followed by a discussion of the emerging concept of an inpatient-to-outpatient transitional care NAS management model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing graduates transitioning to practice are expected to be safe and competent practitioners. Health organizations promote the use of evidence-based practices such as care bundles to improve patient outcomes and provide quality health care. This research describes the introduction of 2 care bundles, sepsis, and acute stroke to senior associate degree nursing students in a clinical day on campus. The researchers used high-fidelity simulation as a teaching methodology to increase knowledge and confidence level in caring for patients in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical site infections ( SSIs) are probably the most preventable of the health care-associated infections. Despite the widespread international introduction of level I evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of SSIs, such as that of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK and the surgical care improvement project (SCIP) of the USA, SSI rates have not measurably fallen. The care bundle approach is an accepted method of packaging best, evidence-based measures into routine care for all patients and, common to many guidelines for the prevention of SSI, includes methods for preoperative removal of hair (where appropriate), rational antibiotic prophylaxis, avoidance of perioperative hypothermia, management of perioperative blood glucose and effective skin preparation. Reasons for poor compliance with care bundles are not clear and have not matched the wide uptake and perceived benefit of the WHO 'Safe Surgery Saves Lives' checklist. Recommendations include the need for further research and continuous updating of guidelines; comprehensive surveillance, using validated definitions that facilitate benchmarking of anonymised surgeon-specific SSI rates; assurance that incorporation of checklists and care bundles has taken place; the development of effective communication strategies for all health care providers and those who commission services and comprehensive information for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The Rapid Response to Acute Illness (RRAILS) Programme is a quality and service improvement initiative which is participated in by all Welsh healthcare organisations including the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) and Velindre Cancer Centre. The aims of the programme were and are: Implementing the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) as standard in all clinical areas in all 18 acute hospitals. Quantifying the incidence of sepsis and acute deterioration in the non Critical Care setting. Improving reliability of systems for identification, escalation and treatment of sepsis. Demonstrably improving outcomes from sepsis and other causes of acute deterioration. Methods: Clinical teams participated in learning sets at which they were trained in service improvement and human factors principles and then supported to implement 'bundles' of best evidence whilst measuring both processes and outcomes. Findings: All organisations have implemented standardised tools and operating procedures including NEWS, sepsis screening tools, Patient Status at A Glance (PSAG) boards, sepsis response bags and an antibiotic formulary. All organisations have demonstrated improvements in the reliability of detection and escalation of acute deterioration whilst many have started to demonstrate local improvements in outcomes. Conclusion: The collaborative learning set is an effective method for improving quality of sepsis care throughout a single healthcare economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment scales for pressure ulcers have been in use for over 50 years but there is no evidence that such scales reduce pressure ulcer incidence. Pressure ulcer interventions have been shown to be effective, sometimes alongside risk assessment scales. Care bundles are an example of multifaceted approaches that have been successfully used in a variety of clinical areas including for pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers were monitored before and after implementation of a new scheme based on an existing care bundle. Avoidable pressure ulcers were significantly reduced following implementation of the scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality improvement (QI) is now a central part of the work of clinicians throughout healthcare. It is based on clear scientific principles, a valid way of measuring change and has theories of reliability and human factors that underpin the interventions. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a highly complex adaptive system that lends itself to the application of QI principles. This will require the development of a safety culture that continually seeks to improve. Clinicians and all those who work in NICU will require training in the methodologies of QI and patient safety to effect change. Working together in collaborative networks can accelerate change. In this paper we discuss some of the key concepts and provide some examples of improvement in the NICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The overall benefits of craniectomy must include procedural risks from cranioplasty. Cranioplasty carries a high risk of surgical site infections (SSI) particularly with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The goal of this study was to measure the effect of a cranioplasty bundle on peri-operative complications. Methods: The authors queried a prospective, inpatient neurosurgery database at Kaiser Sacramento Medical Center for craniectomy and cranioplasty over a 7 year period. 57 patients who underwent cranioplasties were identified. A retrospective chart review was completed for complications, including surgical complications such as SSI, wound dehiscence, and re-do cranioplasty.We measured cranioplasty complication rates before and after implementation of a peri-operative bundle, which consisted of peri-operative vancomycin (4 doses), a barrier dressing through post-operative day (POD) 3, and de-colonization of the surgical incision using topical chlorhexidine from POD 4 to 7. Results: The rate of MRSA colonization in cranioplasty patients is three times higher than the average seen on ICU admission screening (19% vs. 6%). The cranioplasty surgical complication rate was 22.8% and SSI rate was 10.5%. The concurrent SSI rate for craniectomy was 1.9%. Organisms isolated were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (4), methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (1), Propionibacterium acnes (1), and Escherichia coli (1). Factors associated with SSI were peri-operative vancomycin (68.6% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.0217). Complication rates without (n = 21) and with (n = 36) the bundle were: SSI (23.8% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.0217) and redo cranioplasty (19% vs. 0%, p = 0.0152). Bundle use did not affect rates for superficial wound dehiscence, seizures, or hydrocephalus. Conclusions: The cranioplasty bundle was associated with reduced SSI rates and the need for re-do cranioplasties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]