Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Major
Nursing
Date of Defense
7-11-2024
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Sarah Jackson DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Committee
Dr. Candace-Rae Davis, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-P, CPNP-PC/AC
Dr. Joan Smith, PhD, RN, NNP-BC, FAAN
Abstract
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced lifesaving therapy used for patients with significant cardiorespiratory failure not responding to conventional therapies. The most common and life-threatening complications associated with ECMO are blood stream infections (BSIs). In addition to increased mortality, BSI's increase patient length of stay and cost. Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) is known to be a significant factor in BSI reduction. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to assess the utilization of CHG-impregnated dressings on the incidence of BSI rates in pediatric ECMO patients. The setting was a 40-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a 30-bed cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at an urban hospital within a Midwest metropolitan area of the United States. A purposeful convenience sample of all pediatric ECMO patients was performed within the two ICUs for 90 days post project implementation. The data was reviewed and collected from the pre- and post-intervention timeframe obtained via retrospective medical record. Primary outcome measures evaluated included CHG-dressing utilization by bedside staff and BSI rates. There is potential for CHG-impregnated dressings to provide a clinically significant reduction in BSIs in pediatric ECMO patients, which improves patient outcomes, decreases length of stay and cost.
Recommended Citation
Vernier, Kaitlin, "Implementation of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Dressings and the Effect on Bloodstream Infections in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients at a Pediatric Hospital" (2024). Dissertations. 1470.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1470