Impact of Hospital Care on Bloodstream Infection Rates
Author Information
Author(s): Stephen B. Kritchevsky, Barbara I. Braun, Edward S. Wong, Steven L. Solomon, Lynn Steele, Cheryl Richards, Bryan P. Simmons, the EPIC Study Group
Primary Institution: University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center
Hypothesis
Does the relative ranking of hospitals change when using indicators of bloodstream infection for comparison?
Conclusion
The study provides a framework to relate hospital care processes to bloodstream infection rates in ICUs.
Supporting Evidence
- The study involved 54 ICUs across the United States and other countries.
- Data collection began in November 1998 and continued through January 2000.
- The study assessed the relationship between hospital care processes and bloodstream infection rates.
Takeaway
This study looks at how hospital care affects infection rates in patients with central lines in intensive care units.
Methodology
The study collected data from 54 ICUs on bloodstream infections and related hospital care processes.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from differences in data collection methods and definitions across hospitals.
Limitations
The study relies on voluntary participation from hospitals, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study involved ICUs from 40 hospitals in the United States and 14 international hospitals.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
alpha=0.05
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