Clinical Pearls

Reducing hospital-acquired infections can reduce morbidity and mortality, length of stay, and the cost of care. One potential source of infection is the patient’s environment and inanimate surfaces. Albert and colleagues compared disposable electrocardiographic (ECG) lead wires to reusable ECG lead wires as sources of infection. Matched intensive care units (ICUs) were randomized to disposable ECG wires vs reusable ECG wires. The researchers found the following:

The authors suggest that once disposable ECG wires are removed from their original packaging the risk of contamination is similar to that of reusable wires. They advise the use of careful infection control techniques, even with disposable wires.

—Janet Flynn Mulroy, rn, msn, acnp, ccns, ccrn

See Article, pp 460–468

Parent presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures is an important component of family-centered care and is endorsed by many health care organizations. Smith-McAlvin and colleagues did a systematic literature review of the effect of...