Implementation of lean practices to reduce healthcare associated infections

In this paper, Lean and Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies have been used to define, measure, analyse, improve, and control the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections affecting patients’ safety at the adult Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital ‘Federico II’. The first (01/01/2014-28/02/2015) and second data collection campaign (01/03/2015-28/02/2016) involved 144 and 154 patients, respectively. The results show that Acinetobacter baumannii is the dominant bacterium and a positive correlation exists between the number of colonized patients and the number of healthcare procedures the patients undergo. The different parameters influencing the process and the distribution of the sentinel bacterium have been also identified.