Apr. 26--DECATUR -- While national health care-acquired infection rates are showing an alarming rise, infection prevention professionals at St. Mary's Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital have been working hard to buck national trends.
The 2009 National Healthcare Quality Report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which cites data from a variety of sources, has prompted great concern in and out of the health care setting.
According to the report, though postoperative pneumonia rates improved, instances of specific, potentially severe types of infection showed setbacks nationwide.
The Department of Health and Human Services has laid the groundwork for a standardized plan of action. Officials at Decatur Memorial and St. Mary's said much effort and resources are dedicated to monitoring and preventing hospital-acquired infections, adding that local rates already are reflecting those priorities.
"With the national information being made public, we wanted to assure our community that we are very well aware of what the latest evidence is to prevent infections," said Tracy Cox, St. Mary's infection prevention coordinator.
The infections being most closely monitored by local hospitals are specific and can potentially be severe. Among them are catheter-associated urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, MRSA and the intestinal bacteria clostridium difficile.
Critical care patients are among the most susceptible to infection and can face dire consequences, said Cindy Jenkins, Decatur Memorial director of regulatory compliance, who oversees infection prevention.
"It's very important for us to make sure that we don't have health care-acquired infections in that population," she said.
Diabetics, the elderly and those with lowered immune systems also are especially at risk, said Cox.
According to the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care, the cost of health care-associated infections across the country is more than $20 billion each year.
Both hospitals report infection data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using criteria set by the National Healthcare Safety Network.
"To be able to compare nationally, it has to be consistent," said Dr. Maria Granzotti, chief quality officer at St. Mary's.
Infection-rate studies that look at billing data, although it is often the most readily available information, do not have the same clear-cut requirements that safety network reports do, local infection prevention professionals said.
Both local hospitals have implemented a variety of staff education requirements and procedural measures to reduce infection.
"Mostly we look at the literature, look for best practices, what research is out there for infection prevention and implement those things," Jenkins said.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the leading cause of death among hospital-acquired infections, said Kathy McDowell, director of the intensive care unit, dialysis and respiratory services at Decatur Memorial.
"That's something that you really want to get your arms around," she said. Both hospitals have reported long-term success in preventing these cases.
McDowell said Decatur Memorial has instituted four key practice components, proven to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia. Each is effective singularly, she said, but when implemented together, they increase their preventive power.
St. Mary's, too, has reported success in using checklists to prevent rates of specific types of infection.
Cox said infection surveillance efforts at St. Mary's will become easier with the installation of a new software system designed to provide real-time monitoring and alerts.
Each person who enters a hospital, including patients and visitors, plays an important role in infection prevention, encouraging people to ask questions and hold each other accountable, experts said.
"Hand washing is one of the biggest determinants in patient safety," Granzotti said.
Public dialogue and hospitals' willingness to share information on infection prevention efforts have stimulated prevention efforts, the experts said.
"People are much more aware of risk for infection," Jenkins said, citing an interdepartmental committee that meets monthly at Decatur Memorial to discuss prevention methods.
Over the past 11 years, Cox's position has gone from a part-time position to full-time.
"When you're the sole person in the hospital who does the job, we've got to make sure we get out and get the recent information," said Cox, who is board-certified in infection control. She cited support from hospital administration to advance her education and increasing interaction with hospital staff.
Leaders at both Decatur hospitals agree that infection prevention is a constantly evolving goal.
"We've cared all along," Cox said, adding that in the past, hospital performance wasn't talked about the way it is now. "It's not just this year because it's going to be publicly reportable, but we've been moving and continuing to improve and move forward all along."
agetsinger@herald-review.com 421-6968
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