Central Line Catheter-associated Blood Stream Infections for ICU Patients

Why is this important?

Catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) are one of the most common causes of health care-associated infections.  They are expensive to treat and potentially lethal.  By modifying the patient’s surroundings, improvements can be made in areas of hospital care and infection control, and outcomes for patients will improve.

 

These are primary bloodstream infections associated with a catheter that has been placed in a major vein before the onset of the bloodstream infection.  These infections are usually serious and typically result in additional days in the hospital, have an increased risk of significant additional illness and sometimes result in death.  These bloodstream infections are not associated with an infection at another part of the body.

How WellSpan Compares

The following shows the percentage of ICU patients who developed a catheter-associated bloodstream infection.

Unit of Measurement: Percentage

A lower score is better than a higher score.

York Hospital result added on 12/31/2008
Gettysburg Hospital result added on 07/01/2009

What we are doing to improve our performance.

One of the most important measures to prevent these infections is to only have a catheter in place when it is absolutely necessary.  WellSpan’s patient care providers work with the patient to remove these catheters as soon as they are no longer needed.   Other important measures that WellSpan takes to prevent these infections include hand hygiene before the catheter is placed, wearing sterile gloves and gown during insertion, preparing the skin where the catheter will be inserted with a skin antiseptic and using sterile equipment and aseptic technique during catheter insertion.  Once the catheter has been inserted, WellSpan patient care providers use good hand washing and sterile technique every time they need to access the catheter.   WellSpan also deploys a central line cart which is stocked with all the necessary materials to comply with the above.  This cart is always available in intensive care units and the Emergency Department.