Best practices : nursing care as infection prevention for icp monitoring

Abstract

Prolonged or untreated intracranial pressure (ICP) can have devastating and life threatening effects. If left untreated, significant brain damage or death can occur as a result of a vicious cycle of destruction. Although clinical signs and symptoms are present with increases in intracranial pressure, ICP monitoring is the "gold standard" for assessment of intracranial pressure. Unfortunately, ICP monitoring is utilized only 50% of the time that it is indicated in the U.S. due to risks such as hemorrhage, infection, and technical malfunctions. Findings in the literature identify variables associated with infection risk when ICP monitoring devices are utilized. Factors associated with an increased risk of infection include indications for monitoring (subarachnoid or intraventricular hemorrhage), concurrent infection, duration and number of devices utilized, manipulation, and dislodgement. Other factors that may be associated with infection risk included corticosteroid use and location where the device is placed. Catheters impregnated with silver or antibiotics are associated with a decreased risk of infection. Variables deemed unimportant in regard to infection risk included age, gender, severity of illness, GCS score, CSF leak, who places the device, routine CSF sampling, prophylactic antibiotics, antibiotic irrigation, and prophylactic catheter exchange. None of the current literature is focused on nursing care. This is unfortunate, as the care nurses provide is integral to infection prevention associated with such devices. Future nursing research must address this lack of imperative information.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2009

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Amidei, Christina

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

College

College of Nursing

Degree Program

Nursing

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Nursing;Nursing -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0022337

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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