National Patient Safety Foundation To Provide Oversight of Research Study on Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients

BOSTON, Feb. 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), a central voice for patient safety since 1997, will provide oversight for a research study that is seeking a better understanding of non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP). The study will be conducted in a variety of hospital settings to determine the incidence of NV-HAP in hospitalized patients, a complication that may be underreported.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which occurs in patients who require mechanical assistance in breathing, has long been a target of patient safety efforts because of the high risk to patients in intensive care units. Recent studies suggest, however, that large numbers of patients not on ventilators may also contract pneumonia while hospitalized, leading to extended hospital stays and treatment for patients and added costs of care.

Barbara Quinn, MSN, ACNS-BC, RN, clinical nurse specialist at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, Cal., and Dian Baker, RN, PhD, professor of nursing, California State University, Sacramento, are principal investigators of the study. "Our previous research suggests that NV-VAP is an under-studied and under-reported hospital-acquired infection," said Ms. Quinn. "The replication study is a national, multisite study seeking to more extensively quantify the potential scope of NV-HAP in all types of hospitals."

Ms. Quinn and Dr. Baker will lead a team of researchers at 15 sites throughout the country, representing small, medium, and large hospitals. The research teams will conduct chart review to assess the incidence of NV-VAP in hospitalized patients. The Sutter Institute for Medical Research will serve as a central point of data collection and processing for the study.

"Our foundation's role in the study will be to recruit clinicians who have expertise in pneumonia prevention as well as the conduct of research to serve on an oversight committee that will monitor and guide the work of these researchers," said Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS, president and CEO of NPSF. "This is an important new area of inquiry for prevention strategies."

The study is being underwritten by a generous grant from Sage Products, LLC, which will have no influence on data collection, data analysis, or manuscript preparation.

"Research by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety authority in 2012 supports that NV-HAP is actually a larger problem than VAP," said Karen K. Giuliano, RN, PhD, clinical outcomes researcher, Sage Products. "We are very excited that the National Patient Safety Foundation has agreed to provide a Research Oversight Committee to oversee the work of the principal investigators in order to add to the body of knowledge on this important patient safety issue."

About the National Patient Safety Foundation
The National Patient Safety Foundation's vision is to create a world where patients and those who care for them are free from harm. A central voice for patient safety since 1997, NPSF partners with patients and families, the health care community, and key stakeholders to advance patient safety and health care workforce safety and disseminate strategies to prevent harm. NPSF is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more about the Foundation's work, visit www.npsf.org or follow @theNPSF on twitter.

About Sage Products LLC
Since 1971, Sage Products has developed disposable healthcare products trusted by leading healthcare facilities worldwide. The company has a core belief in prevention—that simple, evidence-based, interventions lead to extraordinary outcomes. Sage is pioneering Interventional Patient Hygiene (IPH) with industry-leading brands including Q-Care™ Toothette® Oral Care, 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cloths for Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation, Comfort Bath® Prepackaged Bathing, Comfort Shield® Barrier Cream Cloths, Prevalon® Pressure-Relieving Heel Protection, Prevalon™ Turn and Position System, and Prevalon™ Seated Positioning System. The company's goal is to help improve patient safety and outcomes by preventing skin breakdown, healthcare-associated pneumonias, surgical site infections and other adverse events.