Innovative Solutions for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms' Infections in Intensive Care Unit: A Joint Efficacy Evaluation of Multidisciplinary Team and SHEL (Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware) Model

Background: The escalating threat of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intensive care unit (ICU) demands innovative management strategies to curb the rising infection rates and associated clinical challenges.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of integrating the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach with the SHEL (Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware) model in reducing MDRO infections within ICU settings.

Methods: From January 2021 to April 2024, a prospective, randomized controlled study was conducted in the ICU of Nantong Fourth People's Hospital, enrolling 411 patients with MDRO infections. These patients were randomly assigned into 3 groups: the MDT group, the SHEL model group, and a combined group. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, during which the effects on the MDRO detection rate, infection rate, health care staff's infection control execution scores, and the rationality of antibiotic use were assessed, aiming to determine the efficacy of each approach in managing MDROs in the ICU setting.

Results: The overall infection rate of MDROs in the ICU of our hospital from 2021 to 2024 was 60.18%, with sputum infection sources accounting for 68.37% of the total sources, making it the primary source of infection. The detection rate of MDROs in the combined group was significantly higher than that in the MDT and the SHEL groups, with the SHEL group having a higher detection rate than the MDT group (P < 0.05). The infection rate of MDROs in the combined group was significantly lower than that in both the MDT and the SHEL groups, with the SHEL group having a lower detection rate than the MDT group (P < 0.05). The implementation scores of the combination group in standard prevention, hand hygiene, antibiotic management, and isolation measures were significantly higher than those of the MDT and SHEL groups, with the SHEL group scoring higher than the MDT group (P < 0.05). The rational use of antibiotics in the combined group was also higher than in both the MDT and the SHEL groups, with the SHEL group having a higher level than the MDT group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The integrated MDT and SHEL model significantly reduced MDRO infections in ICU, improved health care workers' infection prevention and nursing quality, and promoted the appropriate use of antibiotics, advocating for its clinical application.