TY - JOUR
T1 - Infection control link nurse program
T2 - An interdisciplinary approach in targeting health care-acquired infection
AU - Sopirala, Madhuri M.
AU - Yahle-Dunbar, Lisa
AU - Smyer, Justin
AU - Wellington, Linda
AU - Dickman, Jeanne
AU - Zikri, Nancy
AU - Martin, Jennifer
AU - Kulich, Pat
AU - Taylor, David
AU - Mekhjian, Hagop
AU - Nash, Mary
AU - Mansfield, Jerry
AU - Pancholi, Preeti
AU - Howard, Mary
AU - Chase, Linda
AU - Brown, Susan
AU - Kipp, Kristopher
AU - Lefeld, Kristen
AU - Myers, Amber
AU - Pan, Xueliang
AU - Mangino, Julie E.
PY - 2014/4
Y1 - 2014/4
N2 - Background We describe a successful interdisciplinary liaison program that effectively reduced health care-acquired (HCA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a university hospital setting. Methods Baseline was from January 2006 to March 2008, and intervention period was April 2008 to September 2009. Staff nurses were trained to be liaisons (link nurses) to infection prevention (IP) personnel with clearly defined goals assigned and with ongoing monthly education. HCA-MRSA incidence per 1,000 patient-days (PD) was compared between baseline and intervention period along with total and non-HCA-MRSA, HCA and non-HCA-MRSA bacteremia, and hand soap/sanitizer usage. Hand hygiene compliance was assessed. Results A reduction in MRSA rates was as follows in intervention period compared with baseline: HCA-MRSA decreased by 28% from 0.92 to 0.67 cases per 1,000 PD (incidence rate ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.62-0.83, P <.001), and HCA-MRSA bacteremia rate was reduced by 41% from 0.18 to 0.10 per 1,000 PD (incidence rate ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.84, P =.003). Total MRSA rate and MRSA bacteremia rate also showed significant reduction with nonsignificant reductions in overall non-HCA-MRSA and non-HCA-MRSA bacteremia. Hand soap/sanitizer usage and compliance with hand hygiene also increased significantly during IP. Conclusion Link nurse program effectively reduced HCA-MRSA. Goal-defined metrics with ongoing re-education for the nurses by IP personnel helped drive these results.
AB - Background We describe a successful interdisciplinary liaison program that effectively reduced health care-acquired (HCA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a university hospital setting. Methods Baseline was from January 2006 to March 2008, and intervention period was April 2008 to September 2009. Staff nurses were trained to be liaisons (link nurses) to infection prevention (IP) personnel with clearly defined goals assigned and with ongoing monthly education. HCA-MRSA incidence per 1,000 patient-days (PD) was compared between baseline and intervention period along with total and non-HCA-MRSA, HCA and non-HCA-MRSA bacteremia, and hand soap/sanitizer usage. Hand hygiene compliance was assessed. Results A reduction in MRSA rates was as follows in intervention period compared with baseline: HCA-MRSA decreased by 28% from 0.92 to 0.67 cases per 1,000 PD (incidence rate ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.62-0.83, P <.001), and HCA-MRSA bacteremia rate was reduced by 41% from 0.18 to 0.10 per 1,000 PD (incidence rate ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.84, P =.003). Total MRSA rate and MRSA bacteremia rate also showed significant reduction with nonsignificant reductions in overall non-HCA-MRSA and non-HCA-MRSA bacteremia. Hand soap/sanitizer usage and compliance with hand hygiene also increased significantly during IP. Conclusion Link nurse program effectively reduced HCA-MRSA. Goal-defined metrics with ongoing re-education for the nurses by IP personnel helped drive these results.
KW - Hand hygiene
KW - Handwashing
KW - Infection prevention
KW - Liaison
KW - MRSA
KW - Multi-disciplinary
KW - Nosocomial
KW - Patient safety
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.10.007
DO - 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.10.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 24548456
AN - SCOPUS:84898058274
SN - 0196-6553
VL - 42
SP - 353
EP - 359
JO - American Journal of Infection Control
JF - American Journal of Infection Control
IS - 4
ER -