Infection Prevention Practices in Neonatal Intensive Care Units Reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
• Personal Author:
  Hocevar, Susan N. ; Lessa, Fernanda C. ; Gallagher, Lauren ; Conover, Craig ; Gorwitz, Rachel ; Iwamoto, Martha
• Description:
  Background
  
  Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at high risk for healthcare-associated infections. Variability in reported infection rates among NICUs exists, possibly related to differences in prevention strategies. A better understanding of current prevention practices may help identify prevention gaps and areas for further research.
  
  Methods
  
  We surveyed infection control staff in NICUs reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) to assess strategies used to prevent MRSA transmission and central-line associated bloodstream infections in NICUs.
  
  Results
  
  Staff from 162 of 342 NICUs responded (response rate 47.3%). Most (92.3%) NICUs use central-line insertion and maintenance bundles, but maintenance practices varied, including agents used for antisepsis and frequency of dressing changes. Forty-two percent reported routine screening for MRSA colonization upon admission for all patients. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) use for central line care for at least one indication (central line insertion, dressing changes, or port/cap antisepsis) was reported in 82 NICUs (51.3%). Among sixty-five NICUs responding to questions on CHG use restrictions, 46.2% reported no restrictions.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Our survey illustrated heterogeneity of CLABSI and MRSA prevention practices and underscores the need for further research to define optimal strategies and evidence-based prevention recommendations for neonates.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Bacteremia Catheter-Related Infections Cross Infection Health Care Surveys Humans Infant, Newborn Infection Control Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Staphylococcal Infections
• Source:
  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 35(9):1126-1132.
• Pubmed ID:
  25111920
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4632847
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  35
• Issue:
  9
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:524277b6f4870d95e72f8cebc8cccb4259c8d2411f0516a921c53454fa4fd556
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/36407/cdc_36407_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 186.48 KB ]