Nurse and midwife researcher collaboration in eastern sub-Saharan Africa: a social network analysis.

AIM: To investigate the collaborative networks among expert clinical nurse and midwifery researchers in eastern and southern Africa. METHODS: Thirty-eight clinical nurse and midwifery researchers completed an online survey to analyse collaboration between respondents. Data were analysed using social network analysis, generating a network map and associated measurements. RESULTS: Regional collaboration was poor. Those links that did exist centred on geographic proximity and participation in regional and international organizations. CONCLUSION: These results help us to understand better ways to strengthen and support nursing and midwifery clinical research in eastern and southern Africa. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Clinical nursing and midwifery research capacity building efforts should focus on supporting collaboration networks among individuals and institutions in the region.

Surgical site infections in a longitudinal cohort of neonatal intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and identify risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) among infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study of infants undergoing surgical procedures from May 2009 to April 2012 in three NICUs was performed. SSI was identified if documented by an attending neonatologist and treated with intravenous antibiotics. Independent risk factors were identified using logistic regression, adjusting for NICU. RESULT: A total of 902 infants underwent 1346 procedures and experienced 60 SSIs (incidence: 4.46/100 surgeries). Risk factors for SSIs included younger chronological age (odds ratio (OR) 1.03 per day decrease, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 1.04), lower gestational age (OR 1.09 per week decrease, CI 1.02, 1.18), male sex (OR 1.17, CI 1.04, 1.34) and use of central venous catheter (OR 4.40, CI 1.19, 9.62). Only 43% had surgical site cultures obtained and Staphylococcus aureus was most commonly isolated. CONCLUSION: SSIs complicated 4.46% of procedures performed in the NICU. Although few modifiable risk factors for SSIs were identified, future efforts should focus on evaluating the impact of current prevention strategies on the incidence of neonatal SSI.

Developing clinical decision support within a commercial electronic health record system to improve antimicrobial prescribing in the neonatal ICU.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and implement a clinical decision support (CDS) tool to improve antibiotic prescribing in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and to evaluate user acceptance of the CDS tool. METHODS: Following sociotechnical analysis of NICU prescribing processes, a CDS tool for empiric and targeted antimicrobial therapy for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) was developed and incorporated into a commercial electronic health record (EHR) in two NICUs. User logs were reviewed and NICU prescribers were surveyed for their perceptions of the CDS tool. RESULTS: The CDS tool aggregated selected laboratory results, including culture results, to make treatment recommendations for common clinical scenarios. From July 2010 to May 2012, 1,303 CDS activations for 452 patients occurred representing 22% of patients prescribed antibiotics during this period. While NICU clinicians viewed two culture results per tool activation, prescribing recommendations were viewed during only 15% of activations. Most (63%) survey respondents were aware of the CDS tool, but fewer (37%) used it during their most recent NICU rotation. Respondents considered the most useful features to be summarized culture results (43%) and antibiotic recommendations (48%). DISCUSSION: During the study period, the CDS tool functionality was hindered by EHR upgrades, implementation of a new laboratory information system, and changes to antimicrobial testing methodologies. Loss of functionality may have reduced viewing antibiotic recommendations. In contrast, viewing culture results was frequently performed, likely because this feature was perceived as useful and functionality was preserved. CONCLUSION: To improve CDS tool visibility and usefulness, we recommend early user and information technology team involvement which would facilitate use and mitigate implementation challenges.