A Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in a Level 4 NICU-Golden Hour Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Newborns.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of chronic lung disease (CLD) requires a multidisciplinary approach spanning from the delivery room to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) discharge. In 2018, a quality improvement (QI) initiative commenced in a level 4 NICU with the goal of decreasing chronic lung disease rates below the Vermont Oxford Network (VON) average of 24%. METHODS: Improvement strategies focused on addressing the primary drivers of ventilation strategies, surfactant administration, non-invasive ventilation, medication use, and nutrition/fluid management. The primary outcome was VON CLD, defined as need for mechanical ventilation and/or supplemental oxygen use at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Statistical process control charts were used to display and analyze data over time. RESULTS: The overall CLD rate decreased from 33.5 to 16.5% following several interventions, a 51% reduction that has been sustained for >18 months. Changes most attributable to this include implementation of the "golden hour" gestational age (GA) based delivery room protocol that encourages early surfactant administration and timely extubation. Fewer infants were intubated across all GA groups with the largest improvement among infants 26-27 weeks GA. CONCLUSIONS: Our efforts significantly decreased CLD through GA-based respiratory guidelines and a comprehensive, rigorous QI approach that can be applicable to other teams focused on improvement.

A Quality Improvement Initiative To Optimize Antibiotic Use in a Level 4 NICU.

BACKGROUND: Given the risks associated with antibiotics, efforts to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in the NICU have become increasingly urgent. In 2016, a comprehensive 3-year quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted in a level 4 NICU that sought to decrease the antibiotic use rate (AUR) by 20%. METHODS: This local QI initiative was conducted in the context of a multicenter learning collaborative focused on decreasing unnecessary antibiotic use. Improvement strategies focused on addressing gaps in the core elements of antibiotic stewardship programs. Outcome measures included the AUR and the percent of infants discharged without antibiotic exposure. Process measures included the percent of infants evaluated for early-onset sepsis (EOS) and duration of antibiotics used for various infections. Statistical process control charts were used to display and analyze data over time. RESULTS: The AUR decreased from 27.6% at baseline to 15.5%, a 43% reduction, and has been sustained for >18 months. Changes most attributable to this decrease include implementation of the sepsis risk calculator, adopting a 36-hour rule-out period for sepsis evaluations, a 36-hour antibiotic hard stop, and novel guideline for EOS evaluation among infants <35 weeks. The percent of infants discharged without antibiotic exposure increased from 15.8% to 35.1%. The percent of infants ≥36 weeks undergoing evaluation for EOS decreased by 42.3% and for those <35 weeks by 26%. CONCLUSIONS: Our efforts significantly reduced antibiotic use and exposure in our NICU. Our comprehensive, rigorous approach to QI is applicable to teams focused on improvement.