1. Reducing the incidence of ventilator-related pneumonia.
- Author
-
Brooks K, Whitten S, and Quigley D
- Subjects
- Benchmarking, Cross Infection epidemiology, Disinfection standards, Humans, Incidence, Infection Control standards, Louisiana epidemiology, Management Quality Circles, Methicillin Resistance, Pneumonia, Staphylococcal epidemiology, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Software Design, Staphylococcus aureus drug effects, Staphylococcus aureus isolation & purification, Cross Infection prevention & control, Hospitals, Veterans standards, Pneumonia, Staphylococcal prevention & control, Ventilators, Mechanical adverse effects
- Abstract
Ventilator-related pneumonia is costly not only in terms of treatment, equipment, and length of stay but also in terms of patient morbidity and mortality. From October 1995 through March 1996 an increase in ventilator-related pneumonia cases, of which 83% were caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was noted at a Veterans Affairs medical center. A multidisciplinary team based on the TQI model and using TQI tools, methodology, and principles of problem solving was subsequently formed to look into ventilator-related pneumonia. The team's data collection and analysis efforts identified numerous opportunities for improvement. The primary outcome has been a decrease in the incidence of ventilator-related pneumonia that has resulted in substantial cost savings.
- Published
- 1998
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