To Örebro University

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients suffering from fecal incontinence have a major risk of developing incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). The presence of moisture and digestive enzymes (lipase, protease) negatively influences skin barrier function. Additional risk factors will make some patients even more vulnerable than others. In order to provide (cost) effective prevention, this specific patient population should be identified timely.

OBJECTIVES: To identify independent risk factors for the development of IAD category 2 (skin loss) in critically ill patients with fecal incontinence.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study was performed in 48 ICU wards from 27 Belgian hospitals. Patients of 18 years or older, with fecal incontinence at the moment of data collection, were eligible to participate. Patients with persistent skin redness due to incontinence (IAD category 1) were excluded.

METHODS: and Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic were calculated as measures of model fit.

RESULTS: was 0.377. The Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic indicated no significant difference between the observed and expected values (p = .301).

CONCLUSIONS: Liquid stool, diabetes, age, smoking, non-use of diapers, fever, and low oxygen saturation were independently associated with IAD category 2 in critically ill patients with fecal incontinence.