Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T05:02:50.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Assessing Occupancy and Its Relation to Healthcare-Associated Infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2016

Neal D. Goldstein*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware
Bailey C. Ingraham
Affiliation:
Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware
Stephen C. Eppes
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware
Marci Drees
Affiliation:
Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware Department of Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware.
David A. Paul
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware
*
Address correspondence to Neal D. Goldstein, Christiana Care Health System, Department of Pediatrics, 4745 Ogletown-Stanton Road, MAP 1, Suite 116, Newark, DE 19713 ([email protected]).

Abstract

Occupancy has been associated with risk for healthcare-associated infections, yet its definition varies widely. Occupancy can be modeled as a function of census, acuity of the patient care unit, staffing ratio, or some combination. This article discusses the appropriate parameterization of these measures and how to interpret their impact.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016:1–3

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
© 2016 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Won, SP, Chou, HC, Hsieh, WS, et al. Handwashing program for the prevention of nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:742746.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Russotto, V, Cortegiani, A, Raineri, SM, Giarratano, A. Bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment in the intensive care unit. J Intensive Care 2015;10:354.Google Scholar
3. Weiner, LM, Fridkin, SK, Aponte-Torres, Z, et al. Vital signs: preventing antibiotic-resistant infections in hospitals—United States, 2014. MMWR 2016;65:235241.Google Scholar
4. Hidron, AI, Edwards, JR, Patel, J, et al. NHSN annual update: antimicrobial-resistant pathogens associated with healthcare-associated infections: annual summary of data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006–2007. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29:9961011.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Kaier, K, Mutters, NT, Frank, U. Bed occupancy rates and hospital-acquired infections—should beds be kept empty? Clin Microbiol Infect 2012;18:941945.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Cimiotti, JP, Aiken, LH, Sloane, DM, Wu, ES. Nurse staffing, burnout, and health care-associated infection. Am J Infect Control 2012;40:486490.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7. Orendi, J. Health-care organisation, hospital-bed occupancy, and MRSA. Lancet 2008;371:14011402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Goldstein, ND, Eppes, S, Ingraham, BC, Paul, DA. Characteristics of late-onset sepsis in the NICU: Does occupancy impact risk of infection? J Perinatol 2016 Sep;36:753757.Google Scholar
9. Clarke, SP, Donaldson, NE. Nurse staffing and patient care quality and safety. In: Hughes RG, ed. Patient Safety and Quality: an Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2008;125.Google Scholar
10. Gagliardi, L, Corchia, C, Bellù, R, Coscia, A, Zangrandi, A, Zanini, R. What we talk about when we talk about NICUs: Infants’ acuity and nurse staffing. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2015;29:29342939.Google ScholarPubMed
11. Bonten, MJ, Slaughter, S, Ambergen, AW, et al. The role of “colonization pressure” in the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: an important infection control variable. Arch Intern Med 1998;158:11271132.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. Lester, BM, Hawes, K, Abar, B, et al. Single-family room care and neurobehavioral and medical outcomes in preterm infants. Pediatrics 2014 Oct;134:754760.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed