Reduction of hospital-acquired infections in the neonatal intensive care unit: A long-term commitment

Abstract

We instituted quality improvement program. We compare the infection rate before (2011-2012) and after (2013-2015). Central line associated blood stream infection episodes decreased from 15.2 to 2.29 episodes per 1000 catheter days (P = .004). We found two major changes, 1. Hand hygiene increased mainly "before aseptic task", from 69.9% to 89.9% and 2. A significant decrease in the length of the catheter use from 5.4 ± 4.5 before to 4.4 ± 2.5 days after the intervention (P = .001).

Keywords: CLABSI; Late onset sepsis; Very low birth weight.