According to an article published in
Nursing2012, “
Preventing CLABSI: Central line-associated bloodstream infection,” the mortality for these infections is 12% to 15% which makes it the most deadly healthcare associated infection and the most costly with average costs per case of $26,000 (Dumont & Nesselrodt, 2012). In 2011, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released
guidelines that give a comprehensive review of ways to prevent these infections (CDC, 2011).
The article by Dumont and Nesselrodt, does an excellent job outlining the causes of CLABSI and the prevention recommendations that can be easily put into practice. The recommendations are divided into three recommendation categories:
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Staff education
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Appropriate selection of catheter and site
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Sterile technique with insertion and ongoing care.
Putting evidence-based recommendations into practice can be difficult especially when researchers don’t include an evidence summary or recommendations for practice. This article does an excellent job summarizing the evidence and clarifying which recommendations will make the most impact on practice change and patient outcomes.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital signs: central line-associated blood stream infections-United States, 2001, 2008, 2009.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rept. 2011, 60(8): 243-248.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
Dumont, C. & Nesselrodt, D. 2012. Preventing CLABSI: Central line-associated bloodstream infections.
Nursing2012, 6.
Submitted by:
Anne Dabrow Woods, MSN, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC
Chief Nurse and Publisher
Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research