Utilization of vasopressin before and after protocol implementation in a surgical intensive care unit

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250
Author(s):  
Susan E. Smith ◽  
Kelli A. Rumbaugh
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Fabre ◽  
Eili Klein ◽  
Alejandra B. Salinas ◽  
George Jones ◽  
Karen C. Carroll ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Interventions to optimize blood culture (BCx) practices in adult inpatients are limited. We conducted a before-after study evaluating the impact of a diagnostic stewardship program that aimed to optimize BCx use in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and five medicine units at a large academic center. The program included implementation of an evidence-based algorithm detailing indications for BCx use and education and feedback to providers about BCx rates and indication inappropriateness. Neutropenic patients were excluded. BCx rates from contemporary control units were obtained for comparison. The primary outcome was the change in BCxs ordered with the intervention. Secondary outcomes included proportion of inappropriate BCx, solitary BCx, and positive BCx. Balancing metrics included compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) SEP-1 BCx component, 30-day readmission, and all-cause in-hospital and 30-day mortality. After the intervention, BCx rates decreased from 27.7 to 22.8 BCx/100 patient-days (PDs) in the MICU (P = 0.001) and from 10.9 to 7.7 BCx/100 PD for the 5 medicine units combined (P < 0.001). BCx rates in the control units did not decrease significantly (surgical intensive care unit [ICU], P = 0.06; surgical units, P = 0.15). The proportion of inappropriate BCxs did not significantly change with the intervention (30% in the MICU and 50% in medicine units). BCx positivity increased in the MICU (from 8% to 11%, P < 0.001). Solitary BCxs decreased by 21% in the medicine units (P < 0.001). Balancing metrics were similar before and after the intervention. BCx use can be optimized with clinician education and practice guidance without affecting sepsis quality metrics or mortality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kozub ◽  
Maribel Hibanada-Laserna ◽  
Gwen Harget ◽  
Laurie Ecoff

Background: To accommodate a higher demand for critical care nurses, an orientation program in a surgical intensive care unit was revised and streamlined. Two theoretical models served as a foundation for the revision and resulted in clear clinical benchmarks for orientation progress evaluation. Purpose: The purpose of the project was to integrate theoretical frameworks into practice to improve the unit orientation program. Methods: Performance improvement methods served as a framework for the revision, and outcomes were measured before and after implementation. Results: The revised orientation program increased 1- and 2-year nurse retention and decreased turnover. Critical care knowledge increased after orientation for both the preintervention and postintervention groups. Conclusion: Incorporating a theoretical basis for orientation has been shown to be successful in increasing the number of nurses completing orientation and improving retention, turnover rates, and knowledge gained.


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