Newark, NJ -- Children’s Hospital of
New Jersey (CHNJ) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center recently
received a commendation from The American Board of Pediatrics for
improving the care of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients
by dramatically reducing catheter-associated bloodstream infections.
CHNJ participates in a multi-year study with National Association
of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) to eradicate
central intravenous catheter-associated blood stream infections
(CA-BSI) in the PICU, the most problematic infectious threat in
PICUs.
As of February 20, 2009, no patient has acquired a catheter-associated
bloodstream infection in PICU at CHNJ in the past 667 days, almost
two years. A sustained infection rate of zero has been tracked
since May 2007.
“This track record makes Children’s Hospital of New
Jersey one of the top performers in this national collaborative
that includes more than 60 pediatric intensive care units,” wrote
James A. Stockman III, MD, President of the American Board of Pediatrics.
The three-year study, called the NACHRI Bloodstream Infection
(BSI) Collaborative, has sustained 45 percent reductions in infections
rates overall at participating hospitals in the past two years.
This translates to 73 lives saved, more than 600 infections prevented
and $21 million saved.
In the NACHRI project, hospitals adhered to rigid guidelines,
including standardized care of catheters, sterile precautions and
monitoring in order to keep catheters in place and free of infection.
The PICUs have also adopted new measures to prevent urinary tract
infections in patients who need bladder catheters.
Each year more than 2 million people acquire infections while
in the hospital and more than 100,000 people are killed by these
infections. For sick children in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
(PICU), some with compromised immune systems, infection is a severe
risk to recovery. According to an article in the medical journal Pediatric
Critical Care, 16 percent of children in PICUs acquire infections
and infections can increase their risk of death by 20 percent.
“We are proud of our PICU team for their dedicated
efforts to reduce this dangerous threat to young patients,” says
Joshua Rosenblatt, MD, Interim Chairman of Pediatrics at CHNJ at
NBIMC. “Catheter-associated bloodstream infections are a
significant source of morbidity, mortality and added medical costs
each year.”
About Children's Hospital
Children's
Hospital is the state's premier hospital caring for children, with
specialized services to treat ill and injured children from newborn
to adolescent years as well as preventive programs that promote
wellness in the community. The facility provides an atmosphere
of caring and warmth that complements the extraordinary medical
care that is delivered by medical and surgical specialists who
are all dedicated exclusively to children's health. For a referral
to a pediatrician or pediatric specialist, please call
1-888-SBHS-123.
Date: March 16, 2009
CONTACT: Beth Salamon, Public Relations, (973) 322-4926
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