ICU Bloodstream Infections Reduced across the UK
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 03 Oct 2019 |
|
Image: Statistics from a new study show bloodstream ICU infections in the UK have dropped drastically (Photo courtesy of 123rf.com).
Bloodstream infections acquired in intensive care units (ICUs) across the United Kingdom dropped by 80% between 2007 and 2012, claims a new study.
Researchers at King’s College London (KCL; United Kingdom), Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (London, United Kingdom), and the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC; London, United Kingdom) conducted a study that collected and analyzed data on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), C. difficile, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infection from 1,189,142 patients admitted to all 276 NHS adult ICUs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2016.
The results showed that MRSA admissions (per 1,000 patients) decreased from 38.8 to 13.1, and acquisitions decreased from 25.4 to 4.1; C. difficile admissions decreased from 10.6 to 4.2, and acquisitions decreased from 11.1 to 3.5; on the other hand, VRE admissions and acquisitions increased from 1.9 to 5.3 and 1.5 to 5.9, respectively. Reductions were seen for all main organisms, excluding VRE, with greatest reductions for MRSA (97%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (80%), S. aureus (77%) and Candida spp (71%), but lower reductions for E. coli (54%) and Klebsiella (42%). The study was published on August 1, 2019, in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
“The size of this reduction in many of the most serious ICU-acquired infections was frankly unexpected, particularly given that the national focus during that time was recording reductions in MRSA and C. difficile,” said lead author Professor Jonathan Edgeworth, MD, of KCL. “It implies that improvements in infection control practice were effectively implemented across the board by all members of the ICU team. It is notable these lower infection rates have been maintained since 2012, but we need to see if they can be reduced further.”
“This is a great example of how our data coordinators and statisticians working with front-line clinicians and NHS data collectors can provide powerful data for the NHS to help it track progress and inform plans for the future,” said senior author Professor David Harrison, PhD, head statistician of the ICNARC. “This infection dataset is probably unique in the world given its coverage of the whole national intensive care unit network and having 13 years of continuously collected data. It is one of the advantages of a NHS that helps engagement from all ICUs and embedding common clinical practice and infection prevention activities throughout the country.”
Related Links:
King’s College London
St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre
Researchers at King’s College London (KCL; United Kingdom), Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (London, United Kingdom), and the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC; London, United Kingdom) conducted a study that collected and analyzed data on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), C. difficile, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infection from 1,189,142 patients admitted to all 276 NHS adult ICUs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2016.
The results showed that MRSA admissions (per 1,000 patients) decreased from 38.8 to 13.1, and acquisitions decreased from 25.4 to 4.1; C. difficile admissions decreased from 10.6 to 4.2, and acquisitions decreased from 11.1 to 3.5; on the other hand, VRE admissions and acquisitions increased from 1.9 to 5.3 and 1.5 to 5.9, respectively. Reductions were seen for all main organisms, excluding VRE, with greatest reductions for MRSA (97%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (80%), S. aureus (77%) and Candida spp (71%), but lower reductions for E. coli (54%) and Klebsiella (42%). The study was published on August 1, 2019, in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
“The size of this reduction in many of the most serious ICU-acquired infections was frankly unexpected, particularly given that the national focus during that time was recording reductions in MRSA and C. difficile,” said lead author Professor Jonathan Edgeworth, MD, of KCL. “It implies that improvements in infection control practice were effectively implemented across the board by all members of the ICU team. It is notable these lower infection rates have been maintained since 2012, but we need to see if they can be reduced further.”
“This is a great example of how our data coordinators and statisticians working with front-line clinicians and NHS data collectors can provide powerful data for the NHS to help it track progress and inform plans for the future,” said senior author Professor David Harrison, PhD, head statistician of the ICNARC. “This infection dataset is probably unique in the world given its coverage of the whole national intensive care unit network and having 13 years of continuously collected data. It is one of the advantages of a NHS that helps engagement from all ICUs and embedding common clinical practice and infection prevention activities throughout the country.”
Related Links:
King’s College London
St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
New
Patient Monitoring System
AlarmSense
New
Surgical Dressing
ALLEVYN Ag+ SURGICAL
Latest Critical Care News
- Automated IV Labeling Solution Improves Infusion Safety and Efficiency
- First-Of-Its-Kind AI Tool Detects Pulmonary Hypertension from Standard ECGs
- 4D Digital Twin Heart Model Improves CRT Outcomes
- AI Turns Glucose Data Into Actionable Insights for Diabetes Care
- Microscale Wireless Implant Tracks Brain Activity Over Time
- Smart Mask Delivers Continuous, Battery-Free Breath Monitoring
- Routine Blood Pressure Readings May Identify Risk of Future Cognitive Decline
- CGM-Based Algorithm Enhances Insulin Dose Adjustment in Type 2 Diabetes
- Fish Scale–Based Implants Offer New Approach to Corneal Repair
- Dual-Function Wound Patch Combines Infection Sensing and Treatment
- Smartwatch Signals and Blood Tests Team Up for Early Warning on Insulin Resistance
- Smart Fabric Technology Aims to Prevent Pressure Injuries in Hospital Care
- Standardized Treatment Algorithm Improves Blood Pressure Control
- Combined Infection Control Strategy Limits Drug-Resistant Outbreak in NICU
- AI Helps Predict Which Heart-Failure Patients Will Worsen Within a Year
- Algorithm Allows Paramedics to Predict Brain Damage Risk After Cardiac Arrest
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Machine Learning Approach Enhances Liver Cancer Risk Stratification
Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is often detected late despite targeted surveillance programs. Current screening guidelines emphasize patients with known cirrhosis,... Read more
New AI Approach Monitors Brain Health Using Passive Wearable Data
Brain health spans cognitive and emotional functions and can fluctuate even in adults without diagnosed disease. Detecting early changes remains difficult in routine care and burdens specialty services... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
Continuous Monitoring with Wearables Enhances Postoperative Patient Safety
Postoperative hypoxemia on general surgical wards is common and often missed by intermittent vital sign checks. Undetected low oxygen levels can delay recovery and raise the risk of complications that... Read more
New Approach Enables Customized Muscle Tissue Without Biomaterial Scaffolds
Volumetric muscle loss is a traumatic loss of skeletal muscle that often leads to permanent functional impairment and limited reconstructive options. Current experimental strategies struggle to deliver... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung disorder that makes breathing difficult and often disturbs sleep, reducing energy for daily activities. Limited engagement in pulmonary... Read more
Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
More than 80% of in-hospital patients receive intravenous (IV) therapy. Every dose of IV medicine delivered in a small volume (<250 mL) infusion bag should be followed by subsequent flushing to ensure... Read more
Health IT
view channel
EMR-Based Tool Predicts Graft Failure After Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation offers patients with end-stage kidney disease longer survival and better quality of life than dialysis, yet graft failure remains a major challenge. Although a successful transplant... Read more
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Business
view channel
GE HealthCare Leads Major European Initiative to Advance Cardio-Oncology Care
Cardiovascular complications are increasingly recognized among people undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment, driven by pre‑existing disease and the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy,... Read more
