title: Use of a 1-piece chlorhexidine gluconate transparent dressing on critically ill patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New transparent dressings with chlorhexidine gluconate in the dressing are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of a new 1-piece occlusive dressing that incorporates chlorhexidine gluconate with that of a dressing plus a chlorhexidine gluconate patch in maintaining the low rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit and to evaluate nurses' satisfaction with and cost of the new dressing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quality improvement observational study was done in an adult medical-surgical intensive care unit. All patients with a central venous catheter had initial and/or subsequent dressing changes done with the new dressing. The central catheter bundle elements of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement were followed. Patients were monitored for catheter-related bloodstream infections, and the rate of infection was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period of 1881 device days, the infection rate was 0.051 per 1000 device days, compared with a rate of 0.052 in 2008. Nurses preferred the new dressing. Cost savings were $3807.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections can be maintained, nurses' satisfaction achieved, and cost savings realized with the new dressing.
authors.affiliation: Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfaff
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heithaus
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emanuelsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009779:Occlusive Dressings
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine