title: Port protectors in clinical practice: an audit.
abstract: This article discusses the effect on compliance and incidence of vascular access device (VAD)-related bacteraemia following the introduction of a passive disinfection device (Curos®) for 6 months in four areas at one hospital trust. The hospital's infection prevention and control team replaced the 'active' disinfection using a disinfection wipe with 'scrub the hub'. Disinfection wipes used for needle-free devices were removed from all four trial areas and Curos was incorporated into the aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT(®)) protocols for the trial wards. Staff training was provided before and during the study, and audits of staff compliance with Curos placement were undertaken monthly. A benchmarking audit of 'scrub the hub' techniques was conducted 1 month before audit began. The results of the audit showed VAD-related bacteraemia rates reduced by 69% from 26 cases (confirmed through review of blood culture laboratory data and source identified by consultant microbiologists) before the study, to 8 when staff compliance with Curos placement onto VADs was 80% or more.
authors.affiliation: Senior Infection Prevention & Control Nurse, Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cameron-Watson
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054869:Clinical Audit; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom; D062666:Vascular Access Devices
keywords: Catheter-related infections; Compliance; Disinfection; Infection control