[Influence of a multiple intervention program for hand hygiene compliance in an ICU]. / Influencia de un programa de intervención múltiple en el cumplimiento de la higiene de manos en una unidad de cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To assess compliance with hand hygiene (HH) in ICU workers before (P1) and after (P2) implementation of a HH promotion program and distribution of an alcoholic solution for HH, and to analyze factors independently associated to HH before and after patients care. DESIGN: Fifty hours of observational evaluation were carried out during each period of the study (P1 and P2); the number of opportunities for HH (before and after patients care) was registered. Educational program (6 months): poster campaign, educational meetings with staff about HH, and the provision of alcohol hand rubs. SETTING: ICU in a secondary level hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare workers in the ICU. INTERVENTIONS: A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate compliance with HH before and after implementation of the educational program. VARIABLES: Dependent variable: HH compliance before-after patients care; independent variables that might be associated to compliance (including the educational program). RESULTS: In P1 there were 338 opportunities for HH both before and after patients care, versus 355 in P2 (before and after patients care). The hand-washing rate was significantly higher in P2 than in P1 (prior to patient care: 45.3% and 34.9%, respectively, and after patient care: 63% and 51.7%, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, the educational program, together with other variables, was significantly associated to HH before and after patients care. CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in compliance with hand hygiene among the ICU personnel during the educational phase, both before and after patients care.

Influencia de un programa de intervención múltiple en el cumplimiento de la higiene de manos en una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Influence of a multiple intervention program for hand hygiene compliance in an ICU

Objetivo: Evaluar el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones sobre «higiene de manos» (HM) en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) en una fase previa (F1) y posterior (F2) a la intervención descrita y analizar los factores asociados de forma independiente al cumplimiento de dichas recomendaciones (antes y después del contacto con el paciente). Diseño: Cincuenta horas de observación en F1 y F2; programa de intervención (PI) (6 meses) que incluye la distribución de dispensadores de solución alcohólica. Ámbito: UCI de un centro asistencial de segundo nivel. Participantes: Personal sanitario de la UCI. Intervenciones: Estudio cuasi experimental que evalúa la situación antes y después de un PI para mejorar el cumplimiento de la HM. Variables de interés: Variable dependiente: cumplimiento de la HM antes-después del contacto con el paciente; variables independientes que pudieran influir en dicha pauta (entre ellas el PI). Resultados: En F1 se recogieron 338 oportunidades para la HM (antes y después del contacto con el paciente); la HM se realizó en 118 (34,9%) y 175 (51,7%), respectivamente. En F2 se observaron 355 oportunidades (antes y después del contacto con el paciente), realizándose la HM en 161 (45,3%) y 224 (63%), respectivamente. En el análisis multivariado la presencia de un PI se asoció de forma independiente, junto con otras variables, con la realización de la HM antes y después del contacto con el paciente. Conclusiones: La introducción de un PI sobre HM en una UCI aumenta de forma estadísticamente significativa el porcentaje de actos de HM antes y después del contacto con el enfermo (AU)

Objective: To assess compliance with hand hygiene (HH) in ICU workers before (P1) and after (P2) implementation of a HH promotion program and distribution of an alcoholic solution for HH, and to analyze factors independently associated to HH before and after patients care. Design: Fifty hours of observational evaluation were carried out during each period of the study (P1 and P2); the number of opportunities for HH (before and after patients care) was registered. Educational program (6 months): poster campaign, educational meetings with staff about HH, and the provision of alcohol hand rubs. Setting: ICU in a secondary level hospital. Participants: Healthcare workers in the ICU. Interventions: A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate compliance with HH before and after implementation of the educational program. Variables: Dependent variable: HH compliance before-after patients care; independent variables that might be associated to compliance (including the educational program). Results: In P1 there were 338 opportunities for HH both before and after patients care, versus 355 in P2 (before and after patients care). The hand-washing rate was significantly higher in P2 than in P1 (prior to patient care: 45.3% and 34.9%, respectively, and after patient care: 63% and 51.7%, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, the educational program, together with other variables, was significantly associated to HH before and after patients care. Conclusion: There was a significant increase in compliance with hand hygiene among the ICU personnel during the educational phase, both before and after patients care (AU)

Extubation outcome after spontaneous breathing trials with T-tube or pressure support ventilation. The Spanish Lung Failure Collaborative Group.

A 2-h T-tube trial of spontaneous breathing was used in selecting patients ready for extubation and discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. However, some doubt remains as to whether it is the most appropriate method of performing a spontaneous breathing trial. We carried out a prospective, randomized, multicenter study involving patients who had received mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h and who were considered by their physicians to be ready for weaning according to clinical criteria and standard weaning parameters. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo a 2-h trial of spontaneous breathing in one of two ways: with a T-tube system or with pressure support ventilation of 7 cm H2O. If a patient had signs of poor tolerance at any time during the trial, mechanical ventilation was reinstituted. Patients without these features at the end of the trial were extubated. Of the 246 patients assigned to the T-tube group, 192 successfully completed the trial and were extubated; 36 of them required reintubation. Of the 238 patients in the group receiving pressure support ventilation, 205 were extubated and 38 of them required reintubation. The percentage of patients who remained extubated after 48 h was not different between the two groups (63% T-tube, 70% pressure support ventilation, p = 0.14). The percentage of patients falling the trial was significantly higher when the T-tube was used (22 versus 14%, p = 0.03). Clinical evolution during the trial was not different in patients reintubated and successfully extubated. ICU mortality among reintubated patients was significantly higher than in successfully extubated patients (27 versus 2.6%, p < 0.001). Spontaneous breathing trials with pressure support or T-tube are suitable methods for successful discontinuation of ventilator support in patients without problems to resume spontaneous breathing.