BackgroundWhile research has demonstrated the importance of a clean health care environment, there is a lack of research on the role portable medical equipment (PME) play in the transmission cycle of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs). This study investigated the patterns and sequence of contact events among health care workers, patients, surfaces, and medical equipment in a hospital environment.MethodsResearch staff observed patient care events over six different 24 h periods on six different hospital units. Each encounter was recorded as a sequence of events and analyzed using sequence analysis and visually represented by network plots. In addition, a point prevalence microbial sample was taken from the computer on wheels (COW).ResultsThe most touched items during patient care was the individual patient (850), bedrail (375), bed-surface (302), and bed side Table (223). Three of the top ten most common subsequences included touching PME and the patient: computer on wheels ➔ patient (62 of 274 total sequences, 22.6%, contained this sequence), patient ➔ COW (20.4%), and patient ➔ IV pump (16.1%). The network plots revealed large interconnectedness among objects in the room, the patient, PME, and the healthcare worker.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that PME such as COW and IV pump were two of the most highly-touched items during patient care. Even with proper hand sanitization and personal protective equipment, this sequence analysis reveals the potential for contamination from the patient and environment, to a vector such as portable medical equipment, and ultimately to another patient in the hospital.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-017-2895-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aims. To empirically validate a conceptual model of Clinical Nurse Leader integrated care delivery. Background. There is limited evidence of frontline care delivery models that consistently achieve quality patient outcomes. Clinical Nurse Leader integrated care delivery is a promising nursing model with a growing record of success. However, theoretical clarity is necessary to generate causal evidence of effectiveness. Design. Sequential mixed methods. Methods. A preliminary Clinical Nurse Leader practice model was refined and survey items developed to correspond with model domains, using focus groups and a Delphi process with a multi-professional expert panel. The survey was administered in 2015 to clinicians and administrators involved in Clinical Nurse Leader initiatives. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to validate the measurement and model structure.

No abstract

Purpose Clinical nurse leaderTM (CNL)‐integrated care delivery is a new model for organizing master's‐level nursing clinical leadership at the microsystem level. While there is growing evidence of improved patient care quality and safety outcomes associated with CNL practice, organizational and implementation characteristics that influence CNL success are not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to identify organization and implementation factors associated with perceived success of CNL integration into microsystem care delivery models. Methods A survey was developed and administered to a nationwide sample of certified CNLs and managers, leaders, educators, clinicians, and change agents involved in planning or integrating CNLs into a health system's nursing care delivery model. Items addressed organizational and implementation characteristics and perceived level of CNL initiative success. Generalized linear modeling was used to analyze data. Results The final sample included 585 respondents. The final model accounted for 35% of variance in perceived CNL initiative success, and included five variables: phase of CNL initiative, CNL practice consistency, CNL instructor or preceptor involvement, CNL reporting structure, and CNL setting ownership status. Conclusions CNL initiative success is associated with modifiable organizational and implementation factors. Clinical Relevance Study findings can be used to inform the development of successful implementation strategies for CNL practice integration into care delivery models to improve care quality outcomes.

Background The reduction in microbial bioburden achieved by terminal disinfection in a hospital may vary considerably by type of disinfectant or cleaner and by environmental service (EVS) personnel. This study estimated whether supplemental ultraviolet (UV) irradiation after disinfection or cleaning reduced bioburden and whether the supplemental effect persisted after adjusting for disinfectant or cleaner type and EVS personnel. Methods Environmental samples for aerobic bacterial colonies (ABC) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were obtained from 5 high-touch surfaces in patient rooms at 3 time points: before manual cleaning, after manual cleaning using 1 of 3 disinfectants or 1 cleaner, and after UV irradiation. Results For ABC, the model-estimated mean (95% uncertainty interval) counts were 56% (48%–63%) lower for postmanual + UV compared with manual clean alone, and for MRSA they were 93% (62%–99%) lower for postmanual + UV vs manual clean alone. Conclusions Although UV supplementation provides incremental benefit in bioburden reduction across all cleaners or disinfectants tested, it provides the greatest benefit when supplementing cleaners or disinfectants with the lowest disinfection properties. UV irradiation provides additional bioburden reduction to manual cleaning or disinfection, even when accounting for variability introduced by different disinfectants and EVS personnel.