Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T07:19:23.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Characteristics of Healthcare-Associated Infections Contributing to Unexpected In-Hospital Deaths

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Daniel J. Morgan*
Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Lucia L. Lomotan
Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Kathleen Agnes
Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland
Linda McGrail
Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland
Mary-Claire Roghmann
Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, 685 West Baltimore Street, MSTF 334, Baltimore, MD 21201 ([email protected])

Abstract

We reviewed the medical records of all the patients who died in our hospital during the period from 2004 through 2008 to determine the contribution of healthcare-associated infections to mortality. Of the 179 unexpected in-hospital deaths during that period, 55 (31%) were related to 69 healthcare-associated infections. The most common healthcare-associated infection was central line-associated bloodstream infection, and the most common organisms identified were members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Overall, 45% of bacterial isolates were multidrug resistant.

Type
Concise Communcations
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2010

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

1.Burke, JP. Infection control-a problem for patient safety. N Engl J Med 2003;348:651.Google Scholar
2.Klevens, RM, Edwards, JR, Richards, CL, et al.Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in US hospitals, 2002. Public Health Rep 2007;122:160.Google Scholar
3.Carrico, R, Ramirez, J. A process for analysis of sentinel events due to health care-associated infection. Am J Infect Control 2007;35:501507.Google Scholar
4.D'Agata, E, Mitchell, SL. Patterns of antimicrobial use among nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Arch Intern Med 2008;168:357362.Google Scholar
5.Oneschuk, D, Fainsinger, R, Demoissac, D. Antibiotic use in the last week of life in three different palliative care settings. J Palliat Care 2002;18:2528.Google Scholar
6.The Joint Commission. Sentinel Event Policy and Procedures. Updated July 2007. http://www.jointcommission.org/SentinelEvents/PolicyandProcedures/se_pp.htm. Accessed November 20, 2009.Google Scholar
7.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.Google Scholar
8.Deyo, RA, Cherkin, DC, Ciol, MA. Adapting a clinical comorbidity index for use with ICD-9-CM administrative databases. J Clin Epidemiol 1992;45(6):613619.Google Scholar