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Mandating gloves during RSV reduced infection rates in PICU
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A program that mandated gloving in a pediatric and neonatal ICU led to reductions in hospital-acquired infections during respiratory syncytial virus season, according to data published online.
Eli N. Perencevich, MD, MS, of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, and colleagues compared data from a tertiary care center during mandatory gloving times with data in which no mandate was in place. Data were compiled from 2002 to 2010.
The researchers reported that universal gloving reduced the rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) by 25% overall in the PICU, NICU and bone marrow transplant units combined (RR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.69-0.93), after adjusting for long-term trends and seasonal effect.
During the study period, 686 HAIs occurred during 363,782 patient-days. Rates of bloodstream infections (RR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.49-0.81), central line-associated bloodstream infections (RR=0.61; 95% CI, 0.44-0.84) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (RR=0.20; 95% CI, 0.03-1.25) were all lower, as well during the gloving period, the researchers said.
The investigators said the reduction was significant in the PICU (RR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.93), the NICU (RR=0.62; 95% CI, 0.39-0.98) and the pediatric bone marrow transplant unit (RR=0.52; 95% CI, 0.29-0.91).
“Universal gloving is a simple, practical, and feasible prevention strategy that requires minimal time and economic resources,” the researchers concluded.
Disclosure: Perencevich reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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