P173: Effectiveness of a hospital-wide educational programme for infection control to reduce the rate of health-care associated infections and related sepsis (alerts) – first results

Objectives

The overarching objective of this clinical trial is to demonstrate the feasibility of an institutional programme to reduce the burden of HAIs and related sepsis of at least 20%, without targeting only specific pathogens or hospital wards.

Methods

Prospective, quasi-experimental study covering all acute care units (27 general wards, 4 ICUs, overall 819 beds) at JUH. Surveillance for HAIs is performed by computerized antibiotic monitoring in patients with risk factors for HAIs (i.e. catheters, operations) on a daily basis. Following the 1^st surveillance period a multifaceted, pragmatic infection control programme, aimed at proper hand hygiene and bundles for the prevention of the four most common HAIs will be implemented. Subsequently, 2^ndsurveillance phase lasting 18 months will be conducted to measure the effect of the infection control programme, starting in May 2013.

Results

Interim results for the first surveillance period (09/2011 to 08/2012) are presented. During this period 38.098 patients were admitted to the participating departments. According to CDC definitions we identified 1727 HAIs, resulting in an overall incidence of 4.5%. Based on clinical evaluation only, irrespective of the CDC definitions, an additional 868 HAIs were detected (overall HAI rate, 6.8% [n =2595]). A substantial proportion of patients had severe sepsis/septic shock due their HAI (LRTI, n=278 (37%); SSI, n=114 (25%); CLABSI, n=124 (33%); UTI, n=45 (8%); other, n=87 (22%).

Conclusion

Our numbers confirm the current estimates of the incidence of HAIs in Germany. Furthermore, a high percentage of HAIs results in severe sepsis/septic shock, requiring ICU treatment.

Disclosure of interest

None declared