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Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kaye, KS; Engemann, JJ; Fulmer, EM; Clark, CC; Noga, EM; Sexton, DJ
Published in: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
March 2006

OBJECTIVE: To describe an infection control network (the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network [DICON]) and its impact on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of rates of nosocomial infections and exposures of employees to bloodborne pathogens in hospitals during the first 3 years of their affiliation with DICON. Attributable cost and mortality estimates were obtained from published studies.Setting. Twelve community hospitals in North Carolina and Virginia. RESULTS: During the first 3 years of hospital affiliation with DICON, annual rates of nosocomial bloodstream infections at study hospitals decreased by 23% (P = .009). Annual rates of nosocomial infection and colonization due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus decreased by 22% (P = .002), and rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia decreased by 40% (P = .001). Rates of exposure of employees to bloodborne pathogens decreased by 18% (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of an infection control network within a group of community hospitals was associated with substantial decreases in nosocomial infection rates. Standard surveillance methods, frequent data analysis and feedback, and interventions based on guidelines and protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were the principal strategies used to achieve these reductions. In addition to lessening the adverse clinical outcomes due to nosocomial infections, these reductions substantially decreased the economic burden of infection: the decline in nosocomial bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia alone yielded potential savings of 578,307 US dollars to 2,195,954 US dollars per year at the study hospitals.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

DOI

ISSN

0899-823X

Publication Date

March 2006

Volume

27

Issue

3

Start / End Page

228 / 232

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Virginia
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • North Carolina
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Infection Control
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Community
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Epidemiology
 

Citation

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Kaye, K. S., Engemann, J. J., Fulmer, E. M., Clark, C. C., Noga, E. M., & Sexton, D. J. (2006). Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 27(3), 228–232. https://doi.org/10.1086/500371
Kaye, Keith S., John J. Engemann, Evelyn M. Fulmer, Connie C. Clark, Edwin M. Noga, and Daniel J. Sexton. “Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 27, no. 3 (March 2006): 228–32. https://doi.org/10.1086/500371.
Kaye KS, Engemann JJ, Fulmer EM, Clark CC, Noga EM, Sexton DJ. Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006 Mar;27(3):228–32.
Kaye, Keith S., et al. “Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, vol. 27, no. 3, Mar. 2006, pp. 228–32. Pubmed, doi:10.1086/500371.
Kaye KS, Engemann JJ, Fulmer EM, Clark CC, Noga EM, Sexton DJ. Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006 Mar;27(3):228–232.
Journal cover image

Published In

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

DOI

ISSN

0899-823X

Publication Date

March 2006

Volume

27

Issue

3

Start / End Page

228 / 232

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Virginia
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • North Carolina
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Infection Control
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Community
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Epidemiology