Segurança do paciente em hospitais de grande porte / Patient safety in large hospitals

Objetivo: analisar a implementação da política nacional de segurança do paciente. Método: trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, descritivo e avaliativo de casos múltiplos em hospitais de grande porte. Informa-se que a coleta de dados constou de uma entrevista com o profissional responsável pelos Núcleos de Segurança do Paciente por meio de um formulário semiestruturado. Analisaram-se os dados pela estatística simples. Resultados: detalha-se que, dos 20 hospitais elegíveis, 12 (60%) participaram do estudo; todos os hospitais (100%) possuem núcleos constituídos, (91,7%) com Plano de Segurança do Paciente e (50%) contam com profissional com dedicação exclusiva. Implementaram-se, por mais da metade dos núcleos (58,3%), todos os protocolos obrigatórios, sendo identificação do paciente (83,3%) e higienização das mãos (83,3%) os mais frequentes. Revela-se que os percentuais de eventos adversos notificados foram: lesão por pressão (88,9%); queda do leito (77,8%) e erros de medicamentos (75%). Conclusão: conclui-se que os núcleos estudados não atendem totalmente às políticas regulatórias vigentes no país, merecendo, portanto, de adequações e de controle sanitário efetivo.(AU)

Objective: to analyze the implementation of the national patient safety policy. Method: this is a quantitative, descriptive and evaluative study of multiple cases in large hospitals. Please be informed that the data collection consisted of an interview with the professional responsible for the Patient Safety Centers using a semi-structured form. Data were analyzed using simple statistics. Results: it is detailed that, of the 20 eligible hospitals, 12 (60%) participated in the study; all hospitals (100%) have centers, (91.7%) have a Patient Safety Plan and (50%) have a professional with exclusive dedication. All mandatory protocols were implemented in more than half of the centers (58.3%), with patient identification (83.3%) and hand hygiene (83.3%) being the most frequent. It is revealed that the percentages of adverse events reported were: pressure injury (88.9%); bed falls (77.8%) and medication errors (75%). Conclusion: it is concluded that the centers studied do not fully comply with the regulatory policies in force in the country, therefore deserving adjustments and effective sanitary control.(AU)

Objetivo: analizar la implementación de la política nacional de seguridad del paciente. Método: se trata de un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y evaluativo de casos múltiples en grandes hospitales. Tenga en cuenta que la recopilación de datos consistió en una entrevista con el profesional responsable de los Centros de Seguridad del Paciente utilizando un formulario semiestructurado. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadísticas simples. Resultados: se observa que de los 20 hospitales elegibles, 12 (60%) participaron en el estudio. Se dice que todos los hospitales (100%) tienen centros constituidos, (91.7%) con un Plan de Seguridad del Paciente y (50%) tienen un profesional con dedicación exclusiva. Es de destacar que más de la mitad de los centros (58.3%) implementan todos los protocolos obligatorios, siendo la identificación del paciente (83.3%) y la higiene de manos (83.3%) las más frecuentes. Se observa que los porcentajes de eventos adversos informados fueron: lesión por presión (88,9%), caída de la cama (77,8%) y errores de medicación (75%). Conclusión: se informa que los centros estudiados no cumplen plenamente con las políticas regulatorias vigentes en el país, por lo que merecen ajustes y un control sanitario efectivo.(AU)

ICU architectural design affects the delirium prevalence: a comparison between single-bed and multibed rooms*.

OBJECTIVES: Delirium risk factors are related to the patients' acute and chronic clinical condition, treatment, and environment. The environmental risk factors are essentially determined by the ICU architectural design. Although there are countless architectural variations among the ICUs, all can be classified as single- or multibed rooms. Our objectives were to compare the ICU delirium prevalence and characteristics (coma/delirium-free days, first day in delirium, and delirium motoric subtypes) of critically ill patients admitted in single- or multibed rooms. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: ICU of a teaching oncologic hospital with 31 beds. Twenty-three beds distributed in one multibed room with 13 beds and other with 10 beds. Eight beds distributed in single-bed rooms. PATIENTS: All adult patients admitted from February to November 2011. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We evaluated 1,587 patients and included 1,253 patients. Patients' characteristics at ICU admission and their outcomes along the ICU stay were not different between patients admitted in single- or multibed rooms. One hundred sixty-three patients (13.0%) had delirium, and the prevalence was significantly lower in patients admitted in single-bed rooms (6.8% × 15.1%; p < 0.01). This lower prevalence occurred in patients admitted due to a medical (11.0% × 25.6%; p < 0.01) or postoperative (5.0% × 11.4%; p < 0.01) reason. However, the coma/delirium-free days, the first day in delirium, and the delirium motoric subtypes were not different between the single- and multibed rooms. The risk factors associated with delirium were admission in multibed rooms (odds ratio, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.13-7.62), older age, ICU-acquired infection, and higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill patients admitted in single-bed rooms have a lower prevalence of delirium than those admitted in multibed rooms. However, coma/delirium-free days, first day in delirium, and motoric subtypes were not different.

[Alzheimer's disease and care needs: what do nurses know?]. / Doença de Alzheimer e demandas de cuidados: o que os enfermeiros sabem?

The aim of this study is to show what nurses from hospitalization units know about Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the demands of care for patients and their families. This is a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach. The data were collected through semistructured interviews. Data saturation occurred after interviewing eleven nurses in two private hospitals. Six categories emerged from the content analysis: AD characterization, risk factors, ways to diagnose, complications, treatment medication, patient and family care. It was observed that nurses have partial knowledge regarding AD, focusing their care actions only on the clinical change that caused admission. They recognize signs and symptoms but only show themselves as supporting assistants, instead of acting more autonomously in dealing with care needs and family support.

Use of antibacterial agents in an intensive care unit in a hospital in Brazil.

It is essential to monitor the utilisation of antibacterial drugs in order to establish appropriate measures for their control. The pattern of usage of antibacterial drugs, and its association with indicators of hospital infection, has been investigated in a non-specialized adult intensive care unit (ICU) located in Santa Luzia Hospital (Brasília, DF, Brazil). The study was conducted between January 2001 and June 2004. Data concerning the utilisation of systemic antibacterial drugs, classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) system, and indicators of hospital infection, defined according to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system, were obtained from appropriate hospital archives. During the study period, the average utilisation of antibacterial drugs was 1918.5 DDD units per 1000 patient-day (DDD(1000)). The three most used drugs were penicillins/beta-lactamase inhibitors (535.3 DDD(1000)), third generation cephalosporins (239.1 DDD(1000)) and quinolones (212.5 DDD(1000)). The total utilisation of antibacterial drugs was correlated significantly with the incidence of hospital infection (R = 0.62; p < 0.01) and the index of invasive procedures (R = 0.41; p < 0.01). Furthermore, the latter two indicators were significantly and positively correlated with the use of recently commercialized, broad spectrum antibacterial drugs (except for carbapenems). It is concluded that improved infection control procedures, together with more rigorous criteria regarding the use of invasive procedures, should be implemented by the ICU studied in order to diminish the utilisation of antibacterial drugs.

Noise level in a 222 bed hospital in the 18th health region-PR.

UNLABELLED: Environment noise pollution is common place today, at intolerable levels. In hospitals, technological developments have, as a consequence, potentially harmful noise levels. Much of the hospital noise comes from inside, rather than outside, and the major source of such noise is the Intensive Care Unit, for example equipment and hospital staff talk. Our goal with the present study was to investigate the noise level present in the different hospital environments, within a 222 bed hospital located at the 18th health zone, PR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in March, 2005, during a period of 24 hours, in tem different sectors. CASE STUDY: We checked environmental sound level by means of a model 1350 decibel meter. RESULTS: The sound level found in our study was of 63.7 dB(A) in average, which exceeds the 45 dB recommended by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (1987). CONCLUSION: In the analyzed sectors, the sound level was considerably above the recommended maximum. The hospital staff should be aware of this noise level and its effects, so that they may act in a more efficient way in order to reduce this noise pollution; thus benefiting the professionals and patient recovery.

Alternative indicators for monitoring the quality of a continuous intervention program on antibiotic prescribing during changing healthcare conditions.

We recently published on the impact of a four-phase hospital-wide intervention program designed to optimize the quality of antibiotic use, where a multidisciplinary team (MDT) could modify prescription at the last phase. Because health care quality was changing during the last 5 years (late 1999 to early 2004), we developed certain indicators to monitor the quality of our intervention over time. Different periods were defined as baseline (pre-intervention), initial intervention-active control, pre-crisis control, crisis control, post-crisis control and end of crisis control. Major indicators were rates of prescription modification by the MDT; prescription for an uncertain infection and a novel index formula (RIcarb) to estimate the rationale for carbapenem use. We assessed 2115 antimicrobial prescriptions. Modification of prescription rate was 30% at the beginning and decreased thereafter up to stable levels. Rate of prescriptions ordered for cases of both uncertain infection and unknown source of infection decreased significantly after intervention (i.e. from baseline to active control). In contrast, a doubling of culture-directed prescriptions was observed between these periods. RIcarb values lower and higher than 60% (modal, cut-off) were assumed as carbapenem overuse and underuse, respectively. Overuse was observed at the pre-intervention, while pronounced underuse was shown during the crisis (RIcarb, 45% and 87%, respectively). The present study demonstrates that certain indicators, other than the widely adopted impact outcomes, are a suitable tool for monitoring the quality of a continuous, long-term, active intervention on antimicrobial prescribing practice, especially when applied in a changing healthcare setting.

Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.

The genetic similarity of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in the Hospital Universitário São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, Brasil, was evaluated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A unique clone was detected among 5 of 7 isolates, suggesting that cross-contamination might have played a role in the spread of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Interestingly, a similar PFGE pattern was encountered in a P. aeruginosa strain isolated from Hospital São Paulo that was used as a PFGE control.

Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing VIM-8, a novel metallo-beta-lactamase, in a tertiary care center in Cali, Colombia.

The prevalence of imipenem resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at a 195-bed tertiary care medical center in Cali, Colombia, rose from 2% in 1996 to 28% in 1997 and to over 40% in 2003. Many isolates showed high-level multiresistance, and phenotypic characterization suggested the spread of a predominant strain with minor variants. Sixty-six resistant isolates collected between February 1999 and July 2003 from hospitalized patients (n = 54) and environmental samples (n = 12) were subjected to a fuller analysis. Genetic fingerprints were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SpeI-digested genomic DNA, and bla(IMP) and bla(VIM) genes were sought by PCR. PFGE and serotyping indicated that 52 of the 66 isolates belonged to a single strain, with 82% similarity; the PFGE pattern for this organism was designated pattern A. Two further pairs of isolates represented single strains; the remaining nine isolates were unique, and in the case of one isolate, no satisfactory PFGE profile could be obtained. The pattern A isolates were mostly of serotype O12 and were highly resistant to imipenem (MICs, 32 to >256 microg/ml), with this resistance decreased eightfold or more in the presence of EDTA. They yielded amplicons with bla(VIM)-specific primers, and sequencing of DNA from a representative isolate revealed bla(VIM-8), a novel allele with three polymorphisms compared with the sequence of bla(VIM-2). Two of these nucleotide changes were silent, but the third determined a Thr139Ala substitution. Only 4 of 13 resistant isolates (2 clinical isolates and 2 environmental isolates) assigned to other PFGE types carried bla(VIM) alleles, whereas the others were less multiresistant and mostly had lower levels of imipenem resistance (MICs, < or =32 microg/ml) which was not significantly reduced by EDTA. No bla(IMP) alleles were detected. During 2003, when the environmental study was undertaken, serotype O12 isolates with bla(VIM) were recovered from sinks and stethoscopes in the most-affected units, although not from the hands of staff; the problem declined once these reservoirs were disinfected and hygienic precautions were reinforced.

Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital

The genetic similarity of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in the Hospital Universitário São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, Brasil, was evaluated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A unique clone was detected among 5 of 7 isolates, suggesting that cross-contamination might have played a role in the spread of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Interestingly, a similar PFGE pattern was encountered in a P. aeruginosa strain isolated from Hospital São Paulo that was used as a PFGE control.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neonatal intensive care unit: risk factors for infection and colonization.

An outbreak of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBLKp) infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) prompted a prospective investigation of colonization and infection with this pathogen. From August 1, 1997 to May 30, 1999, neonates admitted to the NICU for more than 24 h were screened for ESBLKp acquisition. Neonatal gastrointestinal screening was performed by means of faecal sampling within 48 h of admission and then weekly until discharge. Isolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Time-dependent proportional hazard models were used to identify independent effects of invasive procedures and antimicrobials after controlling for duration of stay at the NICU. During the study period, 464 neonates were admitted and 383 were regularly screened. Infections occurred in 13 (3.4%) neonates and 206 (53.8%) became colonized. Independent risk factors for colonization during the first nine days in the NICU were the antimicrobial combination cephalosporin plus aminoglycoside [hazard rate (HR)=4.60; 95% CI: 1.48-14.31], and each NICU-day was associated with a 26% increase in the hazard rate for colonization (HR=1.26; 95% CI: 1.16-1.37). Previous colonization (HR=5.19; 95% CI: 1.58-17.08) and central vascular catheter use (HR=13.89; 95% CI: 2.71-71.3) were independent risk factors for infection. In an outbreak setting the proportion of neonates colonized with ESBLKp was observed to increase with the duration of stay and antimicrobial use, and once colonized, infants exposed to invasive devices may become infected.

Aspectos legais do aleitamento materno: cumprimento da lei por hospitais de médio e de grande porte de Maceió / Legal aspects of breast-feeding: law compliance in medium and large hospitals in Maceió

Objetivos: verificar o cumprimento da legislação brasileira sobre o aleitamento materno por hospitais de médio e grande porte no município de Maceió, durante o ano 2000. Métodos: estudo descritivo para o qual foram selecionados os hospitais públicos e privados de médio e grande porte de Maceió em que trabalhassem pelo menos 30 mulheres com mais de 16 anos de idade. As seguintes variáveis foram determinadas: número de funcionárias, disponibilidade de locais de amamentação e de berços em cada hospital. Os dados foram colhidos através de entrevista semi-estruturada, baseada na legislação vigente, e em vistas aos locais de guarda dos filhos das nutrizes. Resultados: a) 17 hospitais concedem os 120 dias de licença-maternidade e os dois descansos de 30 minutos cada, destinados à amamentação conforme legislação; b) 10 não têm local reservado para os bebês de suas funcionárias; c) em relação as creches, nenhuma segue as normas básicas de funcionamento estabelecidas na legislação. Conclusões: os hospitais cumprem só parcialmente a legislação e existe descaso dos órgãos competentes na fiscalização do cumprimento das leis de proteção ao aleitamento materno.

Implantaçäo de central de material esterilizado em um hospital escola com 220 leitos / Material center implementation in a school hospital with 220 beds

Neste trabalho objetivamos relatar a organizaçäo e funcionamento da central de material de um hospital geral público da zona sul do Município de Säo Paulo, gerenciado por uma universidade privada num contrato de co-gestäo conforme lei que regulamenta as organizaçöes sociais de saúde...

Factores de riesgo en el paciente con candidemia / Risk factors in the candidemia patient

Antecedentes: en la actualidad al hongo del género Candida se le considera un germen patógeno común y destructor. Objetivo: estudiar las características epidemiológicas y factores de riesgo de la candidemia en un hospital de enseñanza con 152 camas. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de casos y controles, mediante la revisión de los expedientes de los pacientes que desarrollaron cuadro clínico de sepsis y a quienes se hizo aislamiento de Candida en un hemocultivo en el periodo de 1990 a 1997. Se obtuvieron los aspectos demográficos y se estudiaron los factores de riesgo, comparándolos con los de un grupo control de dos por caso. Resultados: los 31 casos detectados correspondieron a una incidencia de 0.39/1,000 egresos; dos terceras partes aparecieron a partir de 1995. El 78.5 por ciento de los pacientes se encontraban en la unidad de terapia intensiva (UTI) al momento del cuadro de candidemia y otro porcentaje similar tenía más de 15 días de estancia. Destacaron otros factores predisponentes, como el uso de vancomicina e imipenem, procedimientos médico-quirúrgicos del tubo digestivo y el uso de catéteres y sondas. Conclusiones: la incidencia de candidemia resultó igual a la reportada para pequeños hospitales de enseñanza, como el nuestro, y la mayor parte de los casos ocurrieron en los últimos años. A pesar de que los factores predisponentes son conocidos, consideramos que deben implantarse medidas estrictas de aislamiento, como una vigilancia estrecha del enfermo que se encuentre en la UTI por largos periodos, un control adecuado del uso de antibióticos y la realización de estudios prospectivos para detectar de manera oportuna los casos y administrar un tratamiento temprano.

[Nosocomial infections. Experience at a third-level pediatric hospital]. / Infecciones nosocomiales. Experiencia en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of an epidemiologic surveillance program, from 1990 to the first semester of 1997, in a new high-specialty pediatric hospital and perform a comparison with previous reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The total number and type of nosocomial infections, the incidence rate and density incidence for department and division, for different age groups and according to immune statues were registered. RESULTS: The global incidence of nosocomial infections during the period was 25.7 per 100 discharges, with a progressive decrease during the last three years. Although immunocompromised patients had more infections than immunocompetent ones, the difference was not significative. The three most common infections were: pneumonia, vascular line infections and upper respiratory tract infections. It is possible that upper respiratory tract infections are contributing to the elevation of global incidence rates of nosocomial infections. CONCLUSIONS: The change of infection epidemiology regarding previous experience has led to the implementation of programs to prevent the most frequent problems. It is necessary to intensify the different prevention programs and to increase their reach in order to cut down costs in a short term.

An internal operation. How Granada Hills reinvented its management.

When the board of a California community hospital found that it had drastically miscalculated its earnings for 1998 and was actually in the red, trustees knew they had to act fast. Resisting the "cut and slash" advice of a turnaround specialist, the board chose to "reinvent" its management structure. That's how it could maintain its community health mission and still end up in the black.

Infecciones nosocomiales: experiencia en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel / Nosocomial infections: an experience in a high-specialty pediatric hospital

Objetivo. Se describen los resultados de la vigilancia epidemiológica en un nuevo hospital pediátrico de alta especialidad, de 1990 al primer semestre de 1997, y se comparan con resultados previos del mismo. Material y métodos. Se analizaron el número total y el tipo de infecciones. Para obtener la tasa de incidencia y la densidad de incidencia de acuerdo con el servicio, la división médica o quirúrgica para los diferentes grupos de edad y el estado inmunológico. Resultados. La incidencia global de infecciones nosocomiales durante este periodo fue de 25.7 por 100 egresos, con una disminución progresiva durante los últimos tres años. Aunque los pacientes inmunocomprometidos se infectaron más que los inmunocompetentes, la diferencia no fue significativa. Las tres infecciones más frecuentes fueron las neumonías, las infecciones relacionadas con líneas vasculares y las infecciones respiratorias altas. Es posible que estas últimas contribuyan a la elevación de las tasas globales de incidencia de infecciones nosocomiales. Conclusiones. El cambio en la epidemiología de las infecciones respecto a experiencias propias previas, ha creado la necesidad de implantar programas para prevenir los problemas más frecuentes. Es necesario intensificar los diferentes programas de prevención y fomentar su difusión para abatir estas infecciones a corto plazo

Control de bacteriemia nosocomial pediátrica mediante un programa de cultivo de soluciones parenterales en uso / Pediatric nosocomial bacteremia control program based on culturing in use parenteral infusions

Objetivo. Dado que Klebsiella, Enterobacter y Serratia se multiplican en soluciones parenterales y son responsables de una elevada proporción de bacteriemias en los hospitales de México, se propone una estrategia de control mediante la vigilancia microbiológica de las soluciones en uso. Material y métodos. Hospital de enseñanza de segundo nivel con 193 camas. Atiende principalmente pacientes de escasos recursos. En 1992 se inició la vigilancia de la esterilidad de las soluciones parenterales en los servicios pediátricos mediante cuatro estrategias: durante la primera etapa se cultivó el total de soluciones en uso. Durante la segunda se cultivaron muestras aleatoriamente elegidas. Tercera y cuarta etapas con muestreo controlado y dirigido, respectivamente. Resultados. Se han cultivado 1940 infusiones. Se ha observado una reducción de la tasa de contaminación (29.6 por ciento en 1992 a 12.9 por ciento en 1997, p<0.001). Asimismo se redujo la proporción de bacilos gramnegativos aislados en sangre (72.7 por ciento vs 40.85 por ciento, p<0.001) y las bacteriemias nosocomiales primarias (BNP (3.12 vs 1.54 por 100 egresos, p<0.0001). Conclusiones. La detección de contaminantes señala posibles fallas en el manejo parenteral, áreas de riesgo y pacientes potencialmente afectados. El programa permite estudiar el nivel endémico de contaminación de infusiones y limitar los brotes de bacteriemias nosocomiales primarias a un costo bajo

Validación de un programa de vigilancia de infecciones nosocomiales / Validation of a nosocomial infections surveillance program

Objetivo. Validar el programa de vigilancia de infecciones nosocomiales y conocer la morbilidad y la mortalidad. Material y métodos. Un médico especialmente capacitado, realizó vigilancia intensiva de todos los pacientes admitidos en el hospital. Los casos de infección fueron discutidos con otros dos médicos y el resultado se comparó con la vigilancia rutinaria. Se incluyó a todos los pacientes hospitalizados del 11 de julio al 12 de agosto de 1995, que no tenían un proceso infeccioso activo o que no manifestaban un periodo de incubación a su ingreso. Se siguieron diariamente y se registraron datos de: edad, sexo y padecimiento de ingreso. Se recabó información sobre tratamiento antimicrobiano, microorganismo aislado y susceptibilidad. Se evaluó el estado clínico final y se estimó el tiempo de estancia hospitalaria. Resultados. De 429 pacientes, 45 desarrollaron infección nosocomial (casos) y 384 no lo hicieron (controles). La incidencia de infecciones nosocomiales fue de 10.48/100. La sensibilidad y la especificidad del programa fueron de 93.3 y 98.7 por ciento, respectivamente. La mortalidad en los infectados fue de 11.11 por ciento, y en el grupo de los no infectados, de 2.4 por ciento. El promedio de estancia hospitalaria fue de 20 y 11 días, para infectados y no infectados, respectivamente (p<0.01). Las infecciones más frecuentes fueron: infección de vías urinarias (IVU) (42 por ciento), bacteriemia secundaria (14.8 por ciento), neumonía (11.11 por ciento) y absceso abdominal (9.25 por ciento). Los pacientes etiológicos más frecuentes fueron Escherichia coli (28 por ciento), Staphylacoccus aureus (11.11 por ciento) y pseudomona aeruginosa (8.6 por ciento. La resistencia in vitro varió según el agente causal y, en promedio, fue de 43 por ciento. Conclusiones. La sensibilidad y la especificidad del programa fueron excelentes. Las infecciones nosocomiales producen mayor mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria comparadas con aquellos pacientes no infectados. La validación del sistema permite establecer, de manera confiable, conclusiones sobre factores de riesgo y otras características de las infecciones hospitalarias