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Reducing Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections through Staff Education and Best Practice Guidelines

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Abstract
Background: Healthcare associated infections result in patient mortality and increase healthcare costs worldwide. These infections often lead to blood stream infections secondary to site contamination and human errors. Many of these infections could be avoided if proper aseptic techniques were used at all times by all staff. Methods: This quality improvement project focused on reducing Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections through staff education and current best-practice guidelines. The Institute for Healthcare Instrument recommends five key measures which were implemented at a sub-acute Health Care Center facility in Connecticut. Mandatory in-services for nursing staff were held with pre and post-tests to assess learning, record review to assess documentation of preventative measures and the overall trend for central line infections and length of stay were monitored. Results: The 22 nurses who participated in the pre and post-tests surveys scored from 67% to 88%. The central line maintenance practices improved up to 40 % (30 % to 70 %.) and CLABSI prevention strategies provided a 54% (23% to 77%) improvement from pre to post intervention. There was a significant reduction of CLABSI’s of 78.3% from September 2019 to an average rate of 90% approximately three months post intervention. Discussion: The survey results helped develop subsequent plan for educational interventions regarding appropriate central line practices and CLABSI prevention strategies. Changes resulted in large and sustained reduction in rates of infections that were maintained throughout an 18 month during project.
Type
Capstone Project (Campus Only)
Date
2020-05
Publisher
License
License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/