A prediction of prolonged stay may improve resource allocation, benefit patient management, and help inform the families. The study developed machine-learning (ML) classifiers for predicting prolonged ICU-stay and prolonged hospital-stay for critical patients with pinal cord injury. ML classifiers can effectively predict the prolonged ICU-stay and the prolonged hospital-stay.

Background: Hand hygiene is a critical strategy for infection prevention in all healthcare settings. Automated electronic monitoring systems are expected to improve hand hygiene performance. Aim: To investigate the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) management system on hand hygiene compliance among medical staff in an emergency intensive care unit (EICU). Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted between July 1 st , 2017 and February 28 th , 2018 in a 19-bed EICU. The changes in hand hygiene compliance among 54 members of medical staff and the incidence of hospital infections were compared, counted, and analysed before and after implementing the IoT management system in the EICU that was initiated on November 1 st , 2017. Findings: After the application of the IoT management system, the hand hygiene compliance rates among the members of the medical staff before (29.5% (3347/11,338) vs 57.9% (4690/8094), P < 0.001) and after (59.9% (9915/16,556) vs 73.8% (17,194/23 286), P < 0.001) the contact with patients and surrounding environment significantly improved. However, hand hygiene compliance among three cleaning staff did not significantly improve after the application. Moreover, there was no significant difference in healthcareacquired infection rates (2.535% (9/355) vs 2.047% (7/342), P ¼ 0.667) nor in the detection rates of the four major multidrug-resistant bacteria in the EICU before and after the application of the IoT management system (P > 0.05). Conclusion:The IoT management system significantly improved hand hygiene compliance among medical staff, except cleaners, in the EICU of one provincial hospital; however, the rates of nosocomial infection did not significantly decrease. The quality of hand hygiene implementation needs to be improved.