CLABSI Summary

Catheter related bloodstream infections are not only responsible for prolonged hospital stays and increased hospital costs, it is also responsible for increased mortality of the hospitalized patients. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), an estimate of 30,100 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) occur in intensive care units and wards of U.S. acute care facilities each year. CLABSI is a serious hospital-acquired infection that occurs when bacteria enters the bloodstream through central venous catheters. CLABSI is preventable as long as health-care personnel practice aseptic techniques when working with the catheter. A blood culture swabbed from the tip of the catheter is needed to confirm the

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.

One of the ways to combat the incidence of Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) is by following the proper steps in Central Line Dressing changes. The topic you picked is an important one, both for patients and our overall health care system as well. If nurses will learn, and follow the proper manner in the way Central Venous Lines should be changed it can have a positive outcome for patients. CLABSI can be fatal to the patient, this can devastate the patient's family as well. “Although a 46% decrease in CLABSIs has occurred in hospitals across the U.S. from 2008-2013, an estimated 30,100 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) still occur in intensive care units and wards of U.S. acute care facilities each

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

Prevent Bloodstream infections associated with Central lines: The goal is to educate staff about such infections during the hiring process and throw-out their employment in the facility. Implement the use of disinfection in the

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

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

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

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.

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.

-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.

However, one of the most critical advances to the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream is the identification of individual risk factors that are linked to this condition. They include long hospital stays prior to venous catheterization, heavy microbial colonization within the insertion site, prolonged duration of catheterization, and femoral or internal jugular vein insertion (Goode, Fink, Krugman, Oman & Traditi, 2011). Other simple preventive measures include: performing hand hygiene, using sterile gloves,

In 2012, there were of 1.7 million people in the United States had central line infections. In the past it was common to think that infections that occurs in hospitals were considered “inevitable” (The Joint Commission, 2012, p. 12). Fortunately now health care professionals are relying more on evidence based practices to help reduce central catheter associated infections. There are three ways healthcare professionals can help reduce these infections and that includes the use of chlorhexidine gluconate, management practices, and education.

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