Reducing Central Venous Infections

Abstract

Practice Problem: Patients in the hospital are 36.6% more likely to die after a diagnosis of a Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) (Chovanec et al., 2021). The purpose of this evidence-based practice implementation is to reduce CLABSI rates in the Neurological ICU (Neuro ICU) at a private medical center through use of a CLABSI prevention bundle checklist each shift. PICOT: In the adult neuro-ICU (P), how does implementing a CLABSI prevention bundle checklist each shift (I), compared to current practice (C), affect CLABSI rates (O) within eight weeks (T)? Evidence: Evidence-based research supports that if clinical staff completed each part of the CLABSI bundle, remained informed, and used an interdisciplinary team approach there would be a lower risk of CLABSI. Intervention: The intervention for the project was to have the Neuro ICU staff nurses complete a CLABSI bundle checklist a the change of each shift for patients with a central line. The staff completed an educational lesson on CLABSI and completing each competent of the CLABSI bundle checklist. Outcome: 100% of nurses received education on CLABSI and CLABSI bundles. 100% of patients with central lines receive a documented CLABSI bundle checklist and there was a decreased CLABSI infections from 1.28% to 0%. Conclusion: This evidence-based practice implementation aimed to reduce the Neuro ICU's CLABSI rate through the CLABSI preventive bundle checklist at each shift. Going forward the best practice recommendations for reducing CLABSI rates include using CLABSI packages, informed staff, and an interdisciplinary team approach.