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7/25/09 news article

Dayton Children's leads the way in patient safety

Dayton Children's is one of 26 children's hospitals to publish study demonstrating reductions in dangerous bloodstream infections

Twenty six children's hospitals participated in a collaborative to improve, reduce and prevent dangerous bloodstream infections (BSIs) in critically ill pediatric patients. The study Prevention of Central Venous Catheter Blood Stream Infections in Pediatric Intensive Care Units: A Performance Improvement Collaborative was published in the July 2009 issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE). ICHE is read by 3,600 epidemiologists, infection control practitioners, clinicians and scientists in pediatrics, surgery and microbiology. 

Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) are the most common health care-associated infection in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients, accounting for 30 percent of all health care associated infections in pediatrics. BSIs are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in PICU patients and they increase the cost of care and the length of hospital stay. 

Dayton Children's was part of the collaborative and had two infections in September 2007 but has gone 21 months without an infection from October 2007 to June 2009. Because of this, Dayton Children's won the Child Health Corporation of America's "RACE for Results" award. 

"Patient safety is our top priority. Our team works together to make sure everything is in place to prevent complications and avoid bloodstream infections," says Jodi Mullen, RN, clinical nurse specialist at Dayton Children's pediatric intensive care unit. 

Two-thirds of the participants in the study reduced their infection rates by 33 percent. An estimated 69 BSIs were prevented during the initial nine month improvement collaborative and 198 additional infections were prevented during the 12-month sustain period. The total estimated cost savings was $11.3 million. 

About the RACE for Results Award Program:
The annual RACE for Results award presented by Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) recognizes exceptional improvement efforts that advance patient care in children's hospitals. Winners are selected for the prestigious award by hospital peers and a panel of independent national health care experts.

For more information, contact: 
Marketing Communications Department 
Phone: 937-641-3666 
marketing@childrensdayton.org