Abstract
The effect of a 1-hour nurse training program on the frequency of bacteremia in patients receiving parenteral nutrition was evaluated in a pediatric tertiary center. All of the nurses had previous instruction on aseptic techniques in nursing school. The current program focused on aseptic management of intravenous catheters and implanted subcutaneous ports in patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). One hundred eighty-four nurses had a 1-hour training session in groups of three to five. The frequency of bacteremia in children receiving PN was not reduced (9.2% versus 8.9%), and there was no significant difference in time from the start of PN to the diagnosis of bacteremia (P = 0.31). The authors conclude that a 1-hour training session for the nursing staff was not sufficient. It is suggested that staff training for prevention of bloodstream infections associated with intravascular devices should cover a wider range of topics and take place over a longer period of time.