CLABSI Summary

Getting an infection from improper care during or after insertion of a central line is the last thing you want to get while in the hospital. This paper will discuss Kaiser Permanente’s policy on central venous catheter, also known as a central line, care and dressing change, and whether it follows the current evidence-based practice on preventing bloodstream infection in patients who have them inserted. I will explain about what a central line is, why evidence-based practice is important in the clinical setting, what Kaiser Permanente’s policy about central line care and dressing change is, if Kaiser is currently following evidence-based practice based on current articles about preventing central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and what my role in using evidence-based practice is as a future registered nurse.

Horan, T. C. (2010). Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) criteria and case studies. Retrieved from

The IC department performs about 20 reviews a quarter utilizing the Bloodstream surveillance checklist tool to monitor for PICC/Central Line compliance. Hand sanitizer rewards are now being given to staff that has 100% in the process measure to increase CLABSI compliance. Our facility is engaged in the Hospital Improvement and Innovative Network (HIIN) formerly the Maryland-Virginia HAI Improvement Network is the hospital-wide collaborative to reduce CLABSIs. This 5-year initiative is an affiliation of the Medicare Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland and Virginia, through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The initiative offers support efforts to improve health care quality and achieve

Central line associated blood stream infection, better known as CLABSI, are on a continual rise in critical patients. CLABSI are implemented to help improve vascular access in patients where venous access is minimal or reduced. They help to maintain intraveneous access to deliver medications to the body and in case of emergency. Central lines are not given to every patient admitted into the hospital, only those who are critical. The purpose of this paper is to provide reasoning and evidence behind my research strategy for this particular topic. In the critical populations, how does not using chlorhexidine containing dressing compare to using the dressings influence the central line associated blood stream infection rates over two years.

Healthcare-associated infections from invasive medical devices are linked to high morbidity, mortality, and costs worldwide. Especially in central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and

-A task force was created to address the increase number of central line associated bloodstream infections at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center from 1/12 to 12/12. However the study ended 12/13 as a control of the task forces implemented strategies. There were 68 adult patients which had a rate of about 14.7 per 1000 central line days in an adult inpatient patient. Most infections were in the ICU.

As the CEO of a hospital with the highest Central-Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI), I am approaching the problem from an evidence-based standpoint. My first step is to engage each team member, especially senior leadership, and ensure that everyone is on board to reduce CLABSI occurrences. In a formal, mandatory meeting, I am giving all staff members a detailed overview of the plan as well as an achievable goal for the upcoming fiscal year. While outlining my expectations, I will welcome the infection control team to discuss successful evidence-based strategies and practices.

There is an abundance of information identifying central line acquired bloodstream infection (CLABSI) as a serious adverse event during hospitalization resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and health care cost. Present data from research indicates that CLABSI is the second most avoidable cause of death during hospitalization (Shah, Schwartz, & Cullen, 2016). The above concepts that CLABSI is preventable yet it continues to yield a yearly cost of 2.3 billion dollars and remains a quality metric for national offices such as Joint Commission indicates a foundation for research (Son et al., 2012). Upon the literature review, CLABSI rates were significantly reduced when specific techniques were implemented. Furthermore, all the articles

Article by Clancy (2009) explained central lines were a result of an estimated 250,000 blood stream infections and accounted for 30,000 to 62,000 patient deaths, then adding that each infection cost upwards of $36,000 and cumulatively add up to at least $9 billion in preventable costs annually. The article also explains how the mindset has changed from the cost of having a central line in place and expecting complications to lowering infection rates by an intentional interventional process/s. The article speaks of 5 basic steps to reduce CLABSI, hand washing, insertion techniques, skin cleansing, avoidance of certain sites and earlier removal of the CVC. Studies showed that these guidelines were only followed 62% of the time. The system was changed to ascertain that all the clinicians were in compliance. This prompted 5 interventions, education, a CVC insertion cart with all necessary equipment, physicians having to validate central line necessity, a concise checklist for bedside clinicians and the empower of nurses to stop procedures if guidelines were not followed. These low cost interventions from 11.3/1000 in catheter days in 1998 to zero in the fourth quarter of 2002.

A two-year program called On the CUSP: Stop BSI was formulated in 2008 to prevent CLABSIs in hospitals nationwide and was organized as a state or region-level collaborative with centralized education, data collection, and program management functions (AHRQ, 2012). More than 1,000 hospitals and 1,800 hospital units, representing a total of 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, participated in the program (AHRQ, 2012). The program structure included three main components: (1) a model to translate evidence into practice at the bedside to prevent CLABSIs; (2) the CUSP to improve the safety culture; and (3) a system to measure and report infection data (Sawyer et al., 2010). Results of the program revealed success in reducing CLABSIs nationwide by 41% from a baseline of 1.915 infections per 1,000 line days to a rate of 1.133 infections (AHRQ, 2012). With the nationwide success of the On the CUSP: Stop BSI program (AHRQ, 2012), the state of Hawaii embarked on their own study to determine if a national ICU collaborative to reduce CLABSIs would succeed in the state (Lin et al., 2012). The study, which began in January 2009 and ended in December 2010, included the CUSP, a multifaceted intervention approach to CLABSI prevention, and infection rate monitoring (Lin et al., 2012). Data was collected and reported from 20 ICUs representing 16 hospitals across the state (Lin et al., 2012). The results revealed the overall mean 9statewide CLABSI rates decreased 61% from 1.5 infections per 1,000 catheter days at baseline to 0.6 at 16 to 18 months post-implementation of the project, reinforcing the evidence that the On the CUSP: Stop BSI program can succeed in other states and substantially reduce CLABSI rates in hospitals (Lin et al., 2012). The success of the initial Hawaii study was the catalyst to conduct a second study in the state. This cohort study continued the national On the CUSP: Stop BSI program interventions, extended

The use of disinfecting Curos™ caps must be a routine practice on all oncology floors. This change can readily be implemented, as it does not take much training to learn how to use. The Curos™ caps should also be implemented already existing CLABSI prevention bundles. Considering the 12-25% high mortality rates of CLABSI, implementing the disinfecting caps could reduce the rates of CLABSI by as much as 66% (Whitfield& Lowe, 2013). According to Ramirez, Lee, & and Welch(2014) “ During 2010,the CLABSI rate reduced from 1.9 to 0.5 per 1,000 catheter days during a one-year trial period. Furthermore, compliance to CLABSI prevention bundles increased from 63% to 80% when implementing the disinfecting Curos ™ caps. This high

Central line bundle is a group of evidence-based practice strategy for patient with central catheters, when implemented together, produce better outcomes than implemented individually (Institute of health care improvement, 2010.). The main elements of central line bundle are hand hygiene, maximal barrier precaution upon insertion, Chlorhexidine skin antisepsis, optimal catheter selection, and daily review of line necessity with prompt removal of unnecessary lines Aseptic technique when using and caring for a central line catheter can decrease the chance of contamination in this critically ill infants. Staff education on adherence to aseptic technique and strict central line care guidelines are essential to decreasing bloodstream infections.

Upon completion of this project I learned that many times patients were unaware of the compilations such as infection that may occur with central lines. This has taught me the importance of proving education to our patients in addition to staff members. Patients can help decrease central line associated blood stream infections by being aware of their surroundings and ensuring that nurses, physicians, and visitors take proper steps in decreasing infections rate. Implementing a policy to place alcohol infused caps on all central line that are not currently infusing is best practice back by evidence based practice to significantly decrease infection rates. This project as helped me identify evidence based practice and incorporate these practice in our daily care to help improve patient outcomes. The first couple of days there was not any patients within the intensive care unit with central line.

Article reference (in APA style): Sofroniadou, S., Revela, I., Smirloglou, D., Makriniotou, I., Zerbala, S., Kouloubinis, A., & ... Iatrou, C. (2012). Linezolid versus Vancomycin Antibiotic Lock Solution for the Prevention of Nontunneled Catheter-related Blood Stream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Randomized Study. Seminars In Dialysis, 25(9), 344-350. doi:10.1111/j.1525-139X.2011.00965.x

The main purpose of this policy is to maintain patency of the line and preventing infections of central line. This policy was made in 2016 and current EBP show that SCVMC’S policy does not need revisions. Although, nursing staff need to take precaution while using chlorhexidine on infants due to “risks of skin irritation and chemical burns” (SCVMC, Volume II- Standard of Care, P. 5) otherwise, SCVMC hospital’s policy about central line care is safe and proficient. Staying updated to the most current EBP will reduce costs, maintain the quality of central catheter line, and prevent infections from