Preventing Postoperative Healthcare Associated Infections: The Experience of Two European Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Units

Aims: to investigate the relationship between nursing workloads (first shift) and Healthcareassociated Infections (HAI) in two European Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Background: Critically ill patients may develop an infection, because of their clinical condition, and the invasive interventions received. Inadequate nursing workloads may increase the risk of HAIs. Design: observational study in two European ICUs (Spain and Italy) Methods: in the period February-June 2010 we assessed 60 patients per ICU using the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and the Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Score (NEMS).