Effect of Standardized Bundle Care and Bundle Compliance on Reducing Surgical Site Infections: A Pragmatic Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Care bundles for infection control consist of a set of evidence-based measures to prevent infections. This retrospective study aimed to compare surgical site infections (SSIs) from a single hospital surveillance system between 2017 and 2020, before and after implementing a standardized care bundle across specialties in 2019. It also aimed to assess whether bundle compliance affects the rate of SSIs.

Implementation of a national quality improvement program to enhance hand hygiene in nursing homes in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: This study investigated the cause of hand hygiene deficit, and further implemented a quality improvement program using WHO's hand-hygiene strategy to enhance the compliance of hand hygiene in the nursing home in Taiwan.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in eleven nursing homes in Taiwan from January 2015 to December 2016. After intervention, we monitor the compliance, and accuracy of hand hygiene.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Is a More Sensitive Screening Tool than QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube for Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities.

We investigated the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the residents in seven long-term care facilities (LTCFs) located in different regions of Taiwan and compared the performance of two interferon gamma release assays, i.e., QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) for screening LTBI.

Predominance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the residents and environments of long-term care facilities in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: This study investigated the distribution and persistence of multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) in six long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Methods: We investigated the distribution of MDROs in residents of six LTCFs and their environments from January to December 2016 (intervention period). Active surveillance of colonization of MDROs was performed by culturing rectal and nasal swab samples from the residents every three months.

National bundle care program implementation to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: This study investigated the impact of implementing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle care on the rates of VAP in intensive care units (ICUs) in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 10 ICUs (bed number, 170), including surgical (SICUs) (n = 7), cardiovascular/surgical (CV/S-ICUs) (n = 1), and medical ICUs (MICUs) (n = 2) from 10 hospitals (7 medical center hospitals and 3 regional hospitals) were enrolled in this quality-improvement project. This study was divided into the pre-intervention phase (1st January, 2012-31st July, 2013) and the intervention phase (1st August, 2013-31st October, 2014).

Implementation of a national bundle care program to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: This study assessed the effect of the central line bundle on the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care units (ICUs) in Taiwan.

Methods: This national study was conducted in 27 ICUs with 404 beds total, including 15 medical ICUs, 11 surgical ICUs, and one mixed ICU. The study period was divided into two phases: a pre-intervention (between June 1, 2011 and October 31, 2011) and intervention phase (between December 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012).

Implementation of a national bundle care program to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection in high-risk units of hospitals in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: This study was intended to investigate the impact of implementation of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI) bundle care on the incidence of CA-UTI in high-risk units.

Methods: Thirteen high-risk units, including medical (n = 5), surgical (n = 3), cardiac intensive care units (n = 2), respiratory care centers (n = 2), and respiratory care ward (n = 1) were included in this quality-improvement project. This study was divided into pre-intervention phase (from January 1 to July 31) and post-intervention phase (from August 1 to October 31) in 2013.

Presence of multidrug-resistant organisms in the residents and environments of long-term care facilities in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in the residents and environments of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Taiwan.

Methods: We prospectively investigated the distribution of MDROs in residents of six LTCFs and their environments from January 2015 to December 2015 (intervention period). Active surveillance of colonization of MDROs was performed by culturing rectal and nasal swab samples every 3 months for the residents: 63, 79, and 73 in the first, second, and third surveillance investigations, respectively.

Clinical characteristics of children and adults hospitalized for influenza virus infection.

Background/purpose: Influenza infection has different clinical presentations and outcomes in children and adults, and bacterial coinfection is associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality. This study compared the clinical features in children and adults hospitalized for influenza virus infection and the role of concomitant bacteremia.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted by a review of medical records of all consecutive patients admitted for influenza infection between April 1, 2009 and February 28, 2011.