What’s the evidence for preventing central-line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI)?
Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) Reduction
- CLABSI’s are bad:
- 28,000 deaths among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).
- Average cost of care for patients with CLABSI is $45,000, up to $2.3 billion annually!
- A key study in Critical Care Medicine was “An Intervention to Decrease Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in the ICU”1 which investigated basic interventions such as:
- Hand washing
- Using full-barrier precautions during the insertion of central venous catheters
- Cleaning the skin with chlorhexidine
- Avoiding the femoral site (if possible)
- Removing unnecessary catheters
- This study showed that no line infections occurred in over 70 intensive care units across the great state of Michigan 18 months after implementation.
- This study was followed up 10 years later and the rates of CLABSI remain well-below the national average.2
- Bottom-line: Culture change can be permanent with simple solutions!
References
- Pronovost, Peter, et al. “An intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU.” New England Journal of Medicine355.26 (2006): 2725-2732.
- Pronovost, Peter J., et al. “Sustaining reductions in central line–associated bloodstream infections in Michigan intensive care units: A 10-year analysis.” American Journal of Medical Quality31.3 (2016): 197-202.