Hospital Peer Review; September 1, 2011

According to a September 2011 article in the Hospital Peer Review there have been nearly 200 studies about central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) published since the start of 2011.Many of them talk about similar methods for reducing hospital infection rates — using kits and bundles, putting up posters to remind providers of protocols and pathways, or giving clinicians pocket reminder cards. But with an increased emphasis on hospital-acquired infections evident in Medicare rules, finding novel approaches to reduce infections like CLABSI has taken on new urgency.

The author highlights recent efforts that have shown new ways to achieve spectacular effects — in one case leading to nearly six months without a single CLABSI case including efforts at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The hospital implemented a central line insertion bundle and enforced a zero-tolerance policy for breaches in hand hygiene and isolation precautions, and that needleless I.V. access ports were scrubbed for 15 seconds with 70% alcohol prior to use.

The results were better than anyone expected: For 25 weeks, there were no central-line infections. Since that streak was broken, another streak of 15 weeks without hospital infections has developed.

For more information on contact: Cindy Rew, RN, BSN, nurse manager, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and Michael Anne Preas, RN, BSN, CIC, infection control specialist, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Telephone: (410) 328-8667.