Baltimore's University of Maryland Medical Center surgical intensive care unit sustained a rate of zero central line-associated bloodstream infections for a 25-week period, mainly due to the dedication and oversight of appointed infection control nurses, according to a news release from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control.
The zero CLABSI rate means the hospital's surgical ICU eliminated 14 CLABSIs and saved two to three lives from July-Dec. 2010, compared to the same time period in 2009. In partnership with the hospital's director of medical surgical nursing, infection control nurses were appointed to oversee central line catheter insertions.
An infection control nurse was present during every central line insertion and trained to call out breaks in technique, breaches in hand hygiene and to perform daily assessment of central line dressings for signs of infection. The infection control nurse led daily educational meetings with nursing staff, came up with reminders for best practices and created incentive programs to maintain engagement. The infection control nurses also removed excess clutter from patient rooms and hallways so it would be easier to clean them.
Read the news release about infection control nurses at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Related Articles on CLABSIs:
Infection Control Programs Keep ICUs CLABSI-Free for Up to 2 Years
Ohio Hospitals Make Strides in Patient Safety, Reducing CLABSIs
Standardization, Education Drives Down CLABSI Rates
The zero CLABSI rate means the hospital's surgical ICU eliminated 14 CLABSIs and saved two to three lives from July-Dec. 2010, compared to the same time period in 2009. In partnership with the hospital's director of medical surgical nursing, infection control nurses were appointed to oversee central line catheter insertions.
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An infection control nurse was present during every central line insertion and trained to call out breaks in technique, breaches in hand hygiene and to perform daily assessment of central line dressings for signs of infection. The infection control nurse led daily educational meetings with nursing staff, came up with reminders for best practices and created incentive programs to maintain engagement. The infection control nurses also removed excess clutter from patient rooms and hallways so it would be easier to clean them.
Read the news release about infection control nurses at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Related Articles on CLABSIs:
Infection Control Programs Keep ICUs CLABSI-Free for Up to 2 Years
Ohio Hospitals Make Strides in Patient Safety, Reducing CLABSIs
Standardization, Education Drives Down CLABSI Rates
