Virtual Issue: Infection Control

Nursing in Critical Care

Virtual Issue on Infection Control

Infection control is fundamental to all that we do in critical care. Patients admitted to intensive care units suffer from multi system failure requiring a vast array of complex invasive devices to monitor their physiological response and to administer life-saving therapies. These factors heighten the patient’s risk of infection and challenge the health care team to draw on the latest evidence to inform practice and reduce patient risk. This virtual issue draws together papers published in Nursing in Critical Care since 2010 that specifically look at the evidence to reduce hospital acquired infection (HAI). Nursing in Critical Care takes pride in publishing papers written by UK and International authors that brings together a wealth of knowledge that is grounded in practical application. This virtual issue celebrates how authors have synthezised evidence from complex original research and communicated this as accessible and practical guidance that directly impacts on patient outcomes. The issue starts with safety and quality initiatives and turns to examine specific preventive measures to reduce HAI. The final paper examines how critical care nurses managed an outbreak of H1N1 Influenza A that challenged them to stop the spread of infection as well as reducing HAI in those who had compromised immunity.

Nursing leadership at the crossroads: evidence-based practice ‘Matching Michigan-minimizing catheter related blood stream infections’; Christine A Goeschel

Central line insertion bundle: experiences and challenges in an adult ICU; Joanne McPeake, Shelia Cantwell, Malcolm G Booth, Malcolm Daniel

Oral care and oropharyngeal and tracheal colonization by Gram-negative pathogens in children; Denise Miyuki Kusahara, Lais Tambelli Friedlander, Maria Angélica Sorgini Peterlini, Mavilde Luz Gonçalves Pedreira

The ventilator care bundle and its impact on ventilator-associated pneumonia: a review of the evidence; Petra Lawrence, Paul Fulbrook

Using the prone position for ventilated patients with respiratory failure: a review; Angie D Wright, Maria Flynn

Surviving sepsis: a trust-wide approach. A multi-disciplinary team approach to implementing evidence-based guidelines; Karin Gerber

New Zealand nurses perceptions of caring for patients with influenza A (H1N1); Michelle Honey, Wendy YQ Wang