TY - JOUR
T1 - A national survey of infection prevention practices on bone marrow transplant units.
AU - Poe, S. S.
AU - Larson, E.
AU - McGuire, D.
AU - Krumm, S.
PY - 1994/11
Y1 - 1994/11
N2 - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe bone marrow transplant (BMT)-specific infection prevention measures in the United States. DESIGN: Survey design using a mailed questionnaire. SETTING: BMT programs across the United States. SAMPLE: 91 BMT programs (80.5% response rate). METHODS: A questionnaire containing both closed- and open-ended items was mailed to identified nurse contacts following introductory phone calls. Descriptive statistics were computed on responses to closed-ended questions; content analysis was performed on responses to open-ended questions. FINDINGS: Although all programs used some type of protected environment, practices varied considerably. Wide variation existed in cover-garment and hand-washing practices, regardless of the type of protected environment in use. Other protective measures included skin decontamination (69%), gut decontamination with oral nonabsorbable antibiotics (30%), antifungal therapy (73%), acyclovir therapy (82%), immunotherapy (73%), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor therapy (58%), and modified microbial diets (66%). Numerous mouth care regimens, visitor and patient precautions, and environmental maintenance routines were described. CONCLUSION: Little standardization of infection-prevention practices exists nationwide. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Efforts should be made to test the cost effectiveness and benefits of the various measures in use prior to the development of national standards.
AB - PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe bone marrow transplant (BMT)-specific infection prevention measures in the United States. DESIGN: Survey design using a mailed questionnaire. SETTING: BMT programs across the United States. SAMPLE: 91 BMT programs (80.5% response rate). METHODS: A questionnaire containing both closed- and open-ended items was mailed to identified nurse contacts following introductory phone calls. Descriptive statistics were computed on responses to closed-ended questions; content analysis was performed on responses to open-ended questions. FINDINGS: Although all programs used some type of protected environment, practices varied considerably. Wide variation existed in cover-garment and hand-washing practices, regardless of the type of protected environment in use. Other protective measures included skin decontamination (69%), gut decontamination with oral nonabsorbable antibiotics (30%), antifungal therapy (73%), acyclovir therapy (82%), immunotherapy (73%), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor therapy (58%), and modified microbial diets (66%). Numerous mouth care regimens, visitor and patient precautions, and environmental maintenance routines were described. CONCLUSION: Little standardization of infection-prevention practices exists nationwide. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Efforts should be made to test the cost effectiveness and benefits of the various measures in use prior to the development of national standards.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 7854931
AN - SCOPUS:0028544040
SN - 0190-535X
VL - 21
SP - 1687
EP - 1694
JO - Oncology nursing forum
JF - Oncology nursing forum
IS - 10
ER -