title: [The effect of an intervention on rates of central vascular catheter-related bloodstream infection in intensive care units at the Hadassah Medical Center].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) is a significant source for morbidity and mortality in addition to increased hospital costs. Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) have a greater risk for CR-BSI. Continuous monitoring and control of intravascular central catheters insertion (CCI) by using checklists have a key role in reducing the rate of infections and improving patient health care quality and safety.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of CR-BSI, and to evaluate the adherence of ICU teams to infection control guidelines during CCI prior to and following an intervention program in ICU patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was conducted in six ICUs at the Hadassah Medical Center, during a period of 15 months. The rate of CR-BSI was determined in 320 patients with central catheters during the first period of the study. Assessment of adherence to infection control guidelines during CCI was carried out by observations. Educational intervention consisted of the introduction of physician guidelines for CCI, implementing a checklist to ensure adherence to the guidelines and lectures for the teams, beginning in the second period of the study. During the third period of the study, the rate of CR-BSI was determined in 336 patients with central catheters in the same ICUs, by the same research methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the intervention, a significant reduction in the rate of CR-BSI was observed in the study population from 9.66 to 3.63 infections per 1000 catheter days, with 62.4% risk reduction for CR-BSI, (P < 0.001). Improvements were also recorded in the CCI process and the rate of compliance of the ICUs team with infection control guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of a simple and inexpensive intervention reduced the rate of CR-BSI, leading to improved process of insertion of these catheters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The continuous monitoring of the rate of CR-BSI and using checklists in every CCI process may reduce the morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and lower hospital costs associated with centrally placed vascular catheters.
authors: Infection Control Team, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah Medical Center. ilanag@hadassah.org.il
authors: Ilana
authors: I
authors: Gross
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Block
authors: Shmuel
authors: S
authors: Benenson
authors: Matan J
authors: MJ
authors: Cohen
authors: Mayer
authors: M
authors: Brezis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D018805:Sepsis / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*