Comparing Interventions for Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections.
Disciplines
Critical Care Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect millions, worldwide, and significantly increased morbidity and mortality rates for affected patients. Central venous catheters (CVCs) play a vital role in health care, allowing for hemodynamic monitoring including the administration of IV fluids, blood products, medications, and parenteral nutrition among other things. CVCs pose a risk of developing a bloodstream infection due to gram-positive organisms (the most common), followed by gram negatives, and candida species. CVCs are the most frequent cause of HAIs and of the types of HAIs, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are a common source of HAI. Although the incidence of CLABSI has been declining over the years due to the joint efforts of nurses and healthcare professionals, prevention is still an ongoing battle. Research has shown that these bloodstream infections are highly preventable when evidence-based practices are followed. This study seeks to compare currently approved practices for the prevention of CLABSI in an adult intensive care unit to evidence-based practices with the goal of eliminating CLABSI. The current practices employed in this unit include scheduled dressing changes, use of chlorhexidine skin antiseptics, hand hygiene, and daily review of catheter necessities. Despite these protocols in place, the ICU unit has documented five CLABSIs in six months, which was regarded as ‘unsatisfactory.’ This project will work to improve the ICU unit’s current unsatisfactory performance with CLABSIs by comparing the current practices to evidence-based practice, evaluating patient outcomes, and tracking performance at 3 months, 6 months, and a year. Analysis and evaluation of this study will determine department, hospital, and system changes that improve patient care and outcomes
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Wellstar college of nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Lilian Chira
Comparing Interventions for Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections.
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect millions, worldwide, and significantly increased morbidity and mortality rates for affected patients. Central venous catheters (CVCs) play a vital role in health care, allowing for hemodynamic monitoring including the administration of IV fluids, blood products, medications, and parenteral nutrition among other things. CVCs pose a risk of developing a bloodstream infection due to gram-positive organisms (the most common), followed by gram negatives, and candida species. CVCs are the most frequent cause of HAIs and of the types of HAIs, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are a common source of HAI. Although the incidence of CLABSI has been declining over the years due to the joint efforts of nurses and healthcare professionals, prevention is still an ongoing battle. Research has shown that these bloodstream infections are highly preventable when evidence-based practices are followed. This study seeks to compare currently approved practices for the prevention of CLABSI in an adult intensive care unit to evidence-based practices with the goal of eliminating CLABSI. The current practices employed in this unit include scheduled dressing changes, use of chlorhexidine skin antiseptics, hand hygiene, and daily review of catheter necessities. Despite these protocols in place, the ICU unit has documented five CLABSIs in six months, which was regarded as ‘unsatisfactory.’ This project will work to improve the ICU unit’s current unsatisfactory performance with CLABSIs by comparing the current practices to evidence-based practice, evaluating patient outcomes, and tracking performance at 3 months, 6 months, and a year. Analysis and evaluation of this study will determine department, hospital, and system changes that improve patient care and outcomes