Staffing level: a determinant of late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia

doi:10.1186/cc6085

Critical Care
Volume 11
Issue 4

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Commentary

Staffing level: a determinant of late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia

Jeannie P Cimiotti

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6096, USA

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2007, 11:154doi:10.1186/cc6085


Published:	8 August 2007

See related research by Hugonnet et al., http://ccforum.com/content/11/4/R80

Abstract

A body of knowledge exists to suggest an association between nurse staffing and adverse patient outcomes. Hugonnet and colleagues add further evidence by linking nurse staffing to late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia. Discussed are a number of concerns surrounding the analytic component of this study, including the construction of variables and the statistical models. The authors' estimation that hospitals maintaining a nurse-to-patient ratio above 2.2 could decrease the risk of health care associated infections is based on findings that are potentially biased and unrealistic.