Skip to main content

Hospital

Acquired Infection (HAI)

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also known as nosocomial infections, are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Intro
PROJECT APPLICATION
QI Project Guidance
IRB Approval

Intro

The fourth project in the Tennessee Tiniest Baby Bundle is hospital acquired infection (HAI).

The most common HAIs include central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia, and infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). CLABSI rates in NICUs vary widely, ranging from 3–22 per 1,000 central line days depending on unit practices and patient acuity, with higher rates in extremely low-birth-weight infants. Attributable mortality from CLABSI can reach 4–20%, and survivors often face neurodevelopmental impairments.

In Tennessee, prior TIPQC initiatives focused on CLABSI reduction showed sustained improvements, highlighting opportunities for further progress in broader HAI prevention.

Project

Application

The following application components must be completed before your project team will be approved to participate in this inter-institutional QI project:

It should be noted that execution of the TIPQC Participation and Data Use Agreement (DUA) with TIPQC is required prior to approval of your facility for this project application. Many facilities have already completed this step. It is only required once and is applicable to all projects.

It is recommended that the “day to day” project team member (i.e. key contact person) complete this application.

Apply Here
Designate key project team members
Designate data access rights
Designate additional project team members
Obtain necessary signatures

Hospital

Teams

  • Erlanger Children’s Hospital*
  • Jackson Madison County General Hospital*
  • Methodist LeBonheur Hospital, Germantown*

*Denotes Pilot Hospital

State Project Leaders

Previous State Infant Medical Director, Scott Guthrie, MD is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga, the Director of Neonatal Quality, Research, and Outreach for the Erlanger Health System, and a neonatal intensive care specialist at the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.

Karen Schetzina, MD, MPH, the State TIPQC Infant Medical Director from Niswonger Children’s Hospital and Professor and Vice Chair of Academic Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Child and Family Health Institute at East Tennessee State University.

Patricia A. Scott, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC, C-NPT

Betty Beverly-Brown, MSHA, RN

Laura Choate, RN

Kimberly Hartman, BSN, RN-C

Carley Houser, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC

Tabitha Kozlowski, BSN, RN

Paul Molloy, DO

Kelsey Smith, BSN, RN

Silvia Weiss-Reed, MT ASCP, CIC, CHIPP

Get

Involved.

TIPQC is actively recruiting devoted health care professionals, community leaders and patient and family partners to further our mission of improving health outcomes for mothers and babies in Tennessee.

Learn How