Impact of an educational program on reducing health care-associated meningitis or ventriculitis in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND

Health care-associated meningitis or ventriculitis (HCAMV) is a serious complication in different neurosurgical procedures and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate whether an educational intervention program could reduce the HCAMV incidence in patients undergoing postsurgery external ventricular drainage and wound management.

METHODS

We enrolled 2,904 patients from the neurosurgery intensive care unit between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. The medical staff undertook an educational program developed by a multidisciplinary team on correct external ventricular drainage insertion and maintenance. The program included a 9-page self-learning module on the HCAMV risk factors and operational improvements. Each participant completed a pre- and posttest on their HCAMV knowledge.

RESULTS

We found that 38 of 693 (5.48%) patients presented with infection in the preintervention 9-month period. In the 27-month postintervention period, the proportion of HCAMV incidence dropped by 52.19% (P < .0001) to 58 of 2,211 (2.62%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Educational intervention aimed at the neurosurgery intensive care unit staff could significantly reduce the HCAMV rate, leading to a significant decline in the cost, morbidity, and mortality caused by neurosurgical procedures.