title: A quality improvement program combining maximal barrier precaution compliance monitoring and daily chlorhexidine gluconate baths resulting in decreased central line bloodstream infections.
abstract: A quality improvement intervention on central line-associated bloodstream infection prevention has been ongoing at a regional medical center since February 2004, and although improvements were noted between 2004 and 2007, the incidence rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections was still of concern. A comprehensive review of all infections from October 2005 through January 2007 indicated that these rates decreased when maximal barrier precaution compliance was tracked and increased when compliance tracking stopped; therefore, an ongoing compliance-tracking program for maximal barrier precautions was instituted, and caregivers were reeducated on the importance of central-line-bundle prevention efforts. A quality improvement intervention of daily CHG baths for all ICU patients was added in April 2008. The goal of this QI intervention was to decrease the incidence rate to 0 for a sustained period, and it was successful.
authors.affiliation: Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens, Georgia, USA. alopez@armc.org
authors.forename: Antoinette C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001494:Baths; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011481:Protective Clothing; D058996:Quality Improvement; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine