Efecto de una acción formativa en cuidados intensivos sobre la tasa de contaminación de hemocultivos / Effect of a training programme on blood culture contamination rate in critical care

La contaminación de hemocultivos puede ocurrir desde la extracción al procesamiento, y su tasa no debería exceder del 3%. Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de una acción formativa sobre la tasa de hemocultivos contaminados tras la instauración de recomendaciones de extracción de muestras basadas en la mejor evidencia. Método: Estudio prospectivo antes-después en una unidad de cuidados intensivos polivalente de 18 camas. Se establecieron dos fases (enero-junio 2012, octubre 2012-octubre 2015) con un período formativo entre ellas. Principales recomendaciones: técnica estéril, mascarilla quirúrgica, doble desinfección de piel (alcohol 70° y clorhexidina alcohólica 2%), desinfección con alcohol 70° de tapones de frascos de cultivo e inyección de muestras sin cambiar aguja. Incluidos todos los hemocultivos de pacientes con solicitud facultativa de extracción. Variables: demográficas, gravedad, patología, motivo de ingreso, estancia y resultados de hemocultivos (negativo, positivo y contaminado). Estadística descriptiva básica: media (desviación estándar), mediana (rango intercuartílico) o porcentaje (intervalo de confianza del 95%). Calculadas tasas de contaminación por 100 hemocultivos extraídos. Análisis bivariado entre períodos. Resultados: Incluidos 458 pacientes. Extraídos 841 hemocultivos, 33 de ellos contaminados. En las variables demográficas, gravedad, diagnóstico y estancia en pacientes con contaminación de la muestra, no se observaron diferencias con no contaminados. Tasas de contaminación pre-formación vs post-formación: 14 vs 5,6 por 100 hemocultivos extraídos (p = 0,00003). Conclusión: Una acción formativa basada en la evidencia ha reducido la contaminación de las muestras. Es necesario seguir trabajando en la planificación de actividades y cuidados para mejorar la detección de contaminantes y prevenir la contaminación de las mismas

Blood culture contamination can occur from extraction to processing; its rate should not exceed 3%. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a training programme on the rate of contaminated blood cultures after the implementation of sample extraction recommendations based on the best evidence. Method: Prospective before-after study in a polyvalent intensive care unit with 18 beds. Two phases were established (January-June 2012, October 2012-October 2015) with a training period between them. Main recommendations: sterile technique, surgical mask, double skin disinfection (70° alcohol and 2% alcoholic chlorhexidine), 70° alcohol disinfection of culture flasks and injection of samples without changing needles. Including all blood cultures of patients with extraction request. Variables: demographic, severity, pathology, reason for admission, stay and results of blood cultures (negative, positive and contaminated). Basic descriptive statistics: mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range) and percentage (95% confidence interval). Calculated contamination rates per 100 blood cultures extracted. Bivariate analysis between periods. Results: Four hundred and eight patients were included. Eight hundred and forty-one blood cultures were taken, 33 of which were contaminated. In the demographic variables, severity, diagnosis and stay of patients with contaminated samples, no differences were observed from those with uncontaminated samples. Pre-training vs post-training contamination rates: 14 vs 5.6 per 100 blood cultures extracted (P = .00003). Conclusion: An evidence-based training programme reduced the contamination of samples. It is necessary to continue working on the planning of activities and care to improve the detection of pollutants and prevent contamination of samples

Effect of a training programme on blood culture contamination rate in critical care. / Efecto de una acción formativa en cuidados intensivos sobre la tasa de contaminación de hemocultivos.

Blood culture contamination can occur from extraction to processing; its rate should not exceed 3%. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a training programme on the rate of contaminated blood cultures after the implementation of sample extraction recommendations based on the best evidence. METHOD: Prospective before-after study in a polyvalent intensive care unit with 18 beds. Two phases were established (January-June 2012, October 2012-October 2015) with a training period between them. Main recommendations: sterile technique, surgical mask, double skin disinfection (70° alcohol and 2% alcoholic chlorhexidine), 70° alcohol disinfection of culture flasks and injection of samples without changing needles. Including all blood cultures of patients with extraction request. VARIABLES: demographic, severity, pathology, reason for admission, stay and results of blood cultures (negative, positive and contaminated). Basic descriptive statistics: mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range) and percentage (95% confidence interval). Calculated contamination rates per 100 blood cultures extracted. Bivariate analysis between periods. RESULTS: Four hundred and eight patients were included. Eight hundred and forty-one blood cultures were taken, 33 of which were contaminated. In the demographic variables, severity, diagnosis and stay of patients with contaminated samples, no differences were observed from those with uncontaminated samples. Pre-training vs post-training contamination rates: 14 vs 5.6 per 100 blood cultures extracted (P=.00003). CONCLUSION: An evidence-based training programme reduced the contamination of samples. It is necessary to continue working on the planning of activities and care to improve the detection of pollutants and prevent contamination of samples.

Formación de equimosis y/o hematoma tras la administración profiláctica de enoxaparina subcutánea en abdomen o brazo en pacientes críticos / Ecchymosis and/or haematoma formation after prophylactic administration of subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen or arm of the critically ill patient

Introducción: Los eventos adversos más frecuentes de la administración subcutánea de heparina de bajo peso molecular son la equimosis y/o el hematoma. No existe una fuerte recomendación sobre la zona de punción. Objetivo: Evaluar los eventos adversos, equimosis y/o hematoma, tras administración de enoxaparina subcutánea profiláctica en abdomen vs. brazo, en pacientes críticos. Metodología: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado en dos ramas (inyección abdomen vs. brazo), entre julio de 2014 y enero de 2017, en una unidad de cuidados intensivos polivalente de 18 camas. Incluidos pacientes con enoxaparina profiláctica, ingreso >72h, sin hepatopatías o enfermedades hematológicas, con índice de masa corporal (IMC)>18,5, no embarazadas, mayores de edad y sin lesiones cutáneas que impidan la valoración. Excluidos fallecimientos o traslados de hospital antes de finalizar la valoración. Recogidas variables demográficas, clínicas y aparición de equimosis y/o hematoma en lugar de inyección a las 12, 24, 48 y 72h. Análisis descriptivo, comparación de grupos y regresión logística. Aprobado por la comité de ética, con consentimiento firmado de pacientes/familiares. Resultados: Un total de 301 casos (11 excluidos): 149 en abdomen vs. 141 en brazo. Sin diferencias significativas en variables demográficas, clínicas, IMC, dosis de enoxaparina y administración de antiagregantes. Equimosis en el 48% de los pacientes y hematoma en el 8%, sin diferencias estadísticas abdomen vs. brazo [equimosis, abdomen vs. brazo, n(%): 66(44) vs. 72(51), p=0,25] [hematoma abdomen vs. brazo, n(%):9(6) vs. 14(10), p=0,2]. Se halla significación estadística en el tamaño del hematoma a las 72h: [área de hematoma (mm2) abdomen vs. brazo, mediana (RIC): 2(1-5,25) vs. 20(5,25-156), p=0,027]. Conclusiones: En nuestra cohorte de pacientes, la enoxaparina subcutánea profiláctica administrada en el abdomen produce menos hematomas, a las 72h, que administrada en el brazo. La tasa de incidencia de equimosis y hematomas es menor a la publicada en pacientes críticos, advirtiéndose que pacientes con antiagregantes presentan mayor riesgo de presentar lesiones, no observándose relación de su aparición con el IMC (AU)

Introduction: Ecchymosis and/or haematoma are the most common adverse events after subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin. There is no strong recommendation as to the puncture site. Objective: To evaluate the adverse events, ecchymosis and/or haematoma after the administration of prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen vs the arm in the critically ill patient. Methodology: A randomised, two-arm clinical trial (injection in the abdomen vs the arm), performed between July 2014 and January 2017, in an 18-bed, polyvalent intensive care unit. Patients receiving prophylactic enoxaparin, admitted >72h, with no liver or haematological disorders, a body mass index (BMI) >18.5, not pregnant, of legal age and with no skin lesions which would impede assessment were included. We excluded patients who died or who were transferred to another hospital before completing the evaluation. We gathered demographic and clinical variables, and the onset of ecchymosis and/or haematomas at the injection site after 12, 24, 48 and 72hours. A descriptive analysis was undertaken, with group comparison and logistic regression. The study was approved by the ethics committee with the signed consent of patients/families. Results: 301 cases (11 excluded): 149 were injected in the abdomen vs 141 in the arm. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical variables, BMI, enoxaparin dose or antiplatelet administration [ecchymosis, abdomen vs arm, n(%): 66(44) vs 72(51), P=.25] [haematoma abdomen vs arm, n(%): 9(6) vs 14(10), P=.2]. Statistical significance was found in the size of the haematomas after 72h: [area of haematoma (mm2) abdomen vs arm, median (IQR): 2(1-5.25) vs 20(5.25-156), P=.027]. Conclusions: In our patient cohort, prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin administered in the abdomen causes fewer haematomas after 72hours, than when administered in the arm. The incidence rate of ecchymosis and haematoma was lower than the published incidence in critically ill patients, although patients receiving anti-platelet agents present a higher risk of injury. No relationship was observed in relation to BMI (AU)

Ecchymosis and/or haematoma formation after prophylactic administration of subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen or arm of the critically ill patient. / Formación de equimosis y/o hematoma tras la administración profiláctica de enoxaparina subcutánea en abdomen o brazo en pacientes críticos.

INTRODUCTION: Ecchymosis and/or haematoma are the most common adverse events after subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin. There is no strong recommendation as to the puncture site. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adverse events, ecchymosis and/or haematoma after the administration of prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen vs the arm in the critically ill patient. METHODOLOGY: A randomised, two-arm clinical trial (injection in the abdomen vs the arm), performed between July 2014 and January 2017, in an 18-bed, polyvalent intensive care unit. Patients receiving prophylactic enoxaparin, admitted >72h, with no liver or haematological disorders, a body mass index (BMI) >18.5, not pregnant, of legal age and with no skin lesions which would impede assessment were included. We excluded patients who died or who were transferred to another hospital before completing the evaluation. We gathered demographic and clinical variables, and the onset of ecchymosis and/or haematomas at the injection site after 12, 24, 48 and 72hours. A descriptive analysis was undertaken, with group comparison and logistic regression. The study was approved by the ethics committee with the signed consent of patients/families. RESULTS: 301 cases (11 excluded): 149 were injected in the abdomen vs 141 in the arm. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical variables, BMI, enoxaparin dose or antiplatelet administration [ecchymosis, abdomen vs arm, n(%): 66(44) vs 72(51), P=.25] [haematoma abdomen vs arm, n(%): 9(6) vs 14(10), P=.2]. Statistical significance was found in the size of the haematomas after 72h: [area of haematoma (mm2) abdomen vs arm, median (IQR): 2(1-5.25) vs 20(5.25-156), P=.027]. CONCLUSIONS: In our patient cohort, prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin administered in the abdomen causes fewer haematomas after 72hours, than when administered in the arm. The incidence rate of ecchymosis and haematoma was lower than the published incidence in critically ill patients, although patients receiving anti-platelet agents present a higher risk of injury. No relationship was observed in relation to BMI.