Many neonatal intensive care units are understaffed, which is associated with higher infection rates among infants with very low birth weights, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.
Researchers analyzed nurse staffing data in 67 U.S. NICUs in 2008 and 2009. They studied the relationship between nurse understaffing and rates of infection in blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture occurring more than three days after birth among very low-birth-weight infants with a NICU stay of at least three days.
Hospitals understaffed 32 percent of their NICU infants and 92 percent of high-acuity infants relative to guidelines. Infection rates among very low-birth-weight infants were 16.5 percent in 2008 and 13.9 percent in 2009. Understaffing was associated with an increased risk of infection.
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Researchers analyzed nurse staffing data in 67 U.S. NICUs in 2008 and 2009. They studied the relationship between nurse understaffing and rates of infection in blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture occurring more than three days after birth among very low-birth-weight infants with a NICU stay of at least three days.
Hospitals understaffed 32 percent of their NICU infants and 92 percent of high-acuity infants relative to guidelines. Infection rates among very low-birth-weight infants were 16.5 percent in 2008 and 13.9 percent in 2009. Understaffing was associated with an increased risk of infection.
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Evidence for Nurse-Patient Ratios as Patient Safety Strategy is Limited