[Results of the introduction of the "mre Netzwerk Nordwest" quality certification for nursing homes in Bonn]. / Ergebnisse der Einführung des "mre-Netzwerk Nordwest"-Qualitätssiegels für Alten- und Pflegeheime in der Bundesstadt Bonn.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention of the Robert Koch Institute (KRINKO) published a Recommendation for Prevention of Infection in Nursing Homes in 2005 [Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention beim Robert Koch-Institut (KRINKO)]. The recommended measures for infection control of multidrug-resistant pathogens (MRP) are well known in most institutions. The "mre-Netzwerk Nordwest" quality certification is new, and was implemented by the KRINKO recommendation on a standardized basis for the first time in 2012 in Bonn, Germany. This study describes the first results of this initiative. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The certification contains guidelines based on the above-mentioned KRINKO recommendation and a survey on the status of infections and antibiotic therapies. Nursing homes in Bonn were asked to fulfill a list of ten criteria. The process was supervised by the local health authority and evaluated. RESULTS: Of 38 nursing homes in Bonn, 19 acquired the certification. The survey showed that 1.4% of the residents were treated with antibiotics. Four pathogens were identified as MRP, but did not belong to the classic spectrum. In all, 42% of infections were treated with beta-lactams and 8% with quinolones. The evaluation showed that at least ten urinary tract catheters were removed because of the certification and a related re-evaluation of the indication was made by the treating physician. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the certification was assessed as positive, although it involves additional investments. The application of the approach was considered feasible as compared with other regions. The portion of antibiotic therapy use and partly that of other drugs was comparable to the findings of Wischnewski et al., Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 54(11):1147-1152, 2011. Re-assessing the indication for urinary tract catheters might have a positive influence on the prevention of infections. The certification can trigger the exchange of information on MRP and antibiotic stewardship between nursing home physicians.

Reduction of the nosocomial meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus incidence density by a region-wide search and follow-strategy in forty German hospitals of the EUREGIO, 2009 to 2011.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) disseminates between hospitals serving one patient catchment area. Successful prevention and control requires concerted efforts and regional surveillance. Forty hospitals located in the German EUREGIO have established a network for combating MRSA. In 2007 they agreed upon a synchronised strategy for screening of risk patients and a standard for transmissionbased precautions (search and follow). The same year, the hospitals started synchronised MRSA prevention and annually reporting MRSA-data to the public health authorities. The median rate of screening cultures per 100 patients admitted increased from 4.38 in 2007 to 34.4 in 2011 (p<0.0001). Between 2007 and 2011, the overall incidence density of MRSA (0.87 MRSA cases/1,000 patient days vs 1.54; p<0.0001) increased significantly. In contrast, both the incidence density of nosocomial MRSA cases (0.13 nosocomial MRSA cases/1,000 patient days in 2009 vs 0.08 in 2011; p=0.0084) and the MRSA-days-associated nosocomial MRSA rate (5.51 nosocomial MRSA cases/1,000 MRSA days in 2009 vs 3.80 in 2011; p=0.0437) decreased significantly after the second year of the project. We documented adherence to the regional screening strategy resulting in improved detection of MRSA carriers at admission. Subsequently, after two years the nosocomial MRSA-incidence density was reduced. Regional surveillance data, annually provided as benchmarking to the regional hospitals and public health authorities, indicated successful prevention.

A new scoring system for disease intensity in a surgical intensive care unit.

This study of 215 patients in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) compares the predictive value of a new disease intensity scoring system called the Hanover Intensive System (HIS) with two previously described systems: APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation), and TISS (Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System). HIS was superior in predicting a lethal outcome at an earlier time than the other methods of scoring. Practical use of this system in clinical decision making was made in timing of reoperation, planning nursing time, and caring for patients following liver transplantation. It is concluded that an accurate disease intensity scoring system such as HIS is of practical benefit in decision making in a surgical ICU.