Blood Stream Infections (BSI) and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) Rates in CICU

KKH’s Children Intensive Care Unit (CICU) is committed to good quality care. As part of this commitment, the department monitors Blood stream infections (BSI) and Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates amongst patients.

BSI from catheters placed in patients and VAP due to lung infections arising in part from patients being placed on ventilators are important quality measures. BSI and VAP have been shown to affect patient outcomes and increase length of hospital stay.

We benchmark our rates across reports from centers audited by National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System in US. The graphs show our experience with BSI and VAP in 2008. There were 2 isolated events when BSI and VAP rates exceed our upper quartile benchmark rates and corrective measures were activated. Although when annualized, our overall rates in both categories fall within our benchmark rates standards, we can see that there were improvements made after these interventions on a monthly basis.

KKH maintains such surveillance to continue to audit and keep a high standard of care delivery to CICU patients.

Benchmark: NNIS, Dec 2004 (AJIC)

Central line-associated BSI rate

50th percentile = 5.2
90th percentile = 11.2

Central line utilisation

50th percentile = 0.46
90th percentile = 0.64

Summary: There were no cases of central line associated infection for the 4th quarter of 2008

Central line utilisation remained to be above 50th percentile for Nov-Dec 2008

Benchmark: NNIS, Dec 2004 (AJIC)

Ventilator assoc. pneum. rate

50th percentile = 2.3
90th percentile = 8.1

Ventilator utilisation

50th percentile = 0.36
90th percentile = 0.57

Summary: There were only 2 VAP cases for the 4th quarter of 2008. One case in Oct and another in Dec. Ventilator utilisation remained to be above 90th percentile for Nov-Dec 2008.