Title

Nosocomial Bloodstream Infections in Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Life Support: Variability in Prevention Practices: A Survey of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Members

Publication Date

2015

Journal Title

J Intensive Care Med

Abstract

Nosocomial blood stream infections (BSIs) increase both the morbidity and the mortality of patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS). The aim of this study was to identify common practices for blood stream infection prevention among national Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) programs. An electronic survey that comprised of a 16-item questionnaire was sent out to all ECMO program directors and coordinators within the United States that are part of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry. A total of 152 institutions in 40 states were surveyed, with 85 (55%) responses. One-quarter of the institutions responded that an ECMO infection-prevention bundle or checklist was used during the cannulation. Less than half responded that an ECMO infection-prevention bundle or checklist was used for cannula maintenance, although a majority (82.9%) of institutions responded that a "standard approach to cannula dressings" was used. Half of the respondents reported antimicrobial prophylaxis was routinely prescribed for patients on ECMO, although specific regimens varied widely. Of the institutions, 34.2% reported sending daily blood cultures as part of routine surveillance. Smaller programs were more likely to send daily surveillance blood cultures (58.8%, P < .01). We found no clear consensus on practices used to prevent BSI in patients receiving ECMO.

Volume Number

31

Issue Number

10

Pages

654-669

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2015/02/12

Status

Faculty; Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

General Pediatrics

PMID

25670726

DOI

10.1177/0885066615571540

For the public and Northwell Health campuses

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