RESUMO
Several studies showed that the implementation of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement [IHI] ventilator bundle alone or with other preventive measures are associated with reducing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia [VAP] rates. However, the association with ventilator utilization was rarely examined and the findings were conflicting. The objectives were to validate the bundle association with VAP rate in a traditionally high VAP environment and to examine its association with ventilator utilization. The study was conducted at the adult medical-surgical intensive care unit [ICU] at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia, between 2010 and 2013. VAP data were collected by a prospective targeted surveillance as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]/National Healthcare Safety Network [NHSN] methodology while bundle data were collected by a cross-sectional design as per IHI methodology. Ventilator bundle compliance significantly increased from 90% in 2010 to 97% in 2013 [P for trend < 0.001]. On the other hand, VAP rate decreased from 3.6 [per 1000 ventilator days] in 2010 to 1.0 in 2013 [P for trend = 0.054] and ventilator utilization ratio decreased from 0.73 in 2010 to 0.59 in 2013 [P for trend < 0.001]. There were negative significant correlations between the trends of ventilator bundle compliance and VAP rate [cross-correlation coefficients -0.63 to 0.07] and ventilator utilization [cross-correlation coefficients -0.18 to -0.63]. More than 70% improvement of VAP rates and approximately 20% improvement of ventilator utilization were observed during IHI ventilator bundle implementation among adult critical patients in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. Replicating the current finding in multicenter randomized trials is required before establishing any causal link
RESUMO
Data on HBV prevalence among active military personnel in Saudi Arabia [SA] are lacking. In addition, the work-related risk of exposure is unclear. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HBV and the risk of HBV exposure among SA National Guard [SANG] soldiers. A cross-sectional study was performed and included 400 male SANG soldiers working in Jeddah during January 2009. All soldiers completed a questionnaire to assess their risk of exposure and gave a blood sample to test for hepatitis serology markers. A total of 16 [4.0%] soldiers were positive for HbsAg, 53 [13.2%] were positive for anti-HBc, and 230 [57.5%] were positive for anti-HBs. None of the soldiers had acute HBV infection, but 15 [3.8%] were chronic HBV carriers. A total of 152 [38.0%] soldiers were susceptible to HBV infection, and 230 [57.5%] were immune to HBV infection, primarily [84.3%] due to HBV vaccination. Compared with those who were negative for anti-HBc [never exposed], soldiers who were positive for anti-HBc were more likely to be older, have a lower education level, have a higher income, have a longer service duration, have a household member with HBV disease, have undergone surgery, or have undergone endoscopy. In the multivariate logistic regression model, older age, presence of a household member with HBV disease and previous endoscopy were independent predictors of HBV exposure. We report a 4% prevalence of HBsAg in the Saudi military population. This HBV prevalence was higher than those in the general Saudi population and military populations from Western countries. Both work-related and community-related risk factors for exposure are suggested