Staphylococcus infection
Photo by Bill Branson
NASHVILLE—A single-center study has shown that incorporating antimicrobial cloths into an infection-prevention protocol can reduce the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in pediatric patients.
After the hospital implemented daily “baths” with disposable cloths containing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), its CLABSI incidence fell 59% over a 6-month period.
The details of this experience were presented at the APIC 2015 Annual Conference (abstract 013).
The study was conducted at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis. The hospital previously used CHG for daily bathing in the hematology/oncology unit and found it successfully reduced CLABSIs there.
This prompted infection preventionists to consider implementing the practice hospital-wide, regardless of whether patients had central-line catheters.
The infection-prevention team worked with nursing staff, parents, and hospital leadership to adopt daily CHG bathing for all patients and to strengthen adherence to a bundle of prevention practices already in place for patients with central lines.
In addition to daily bathing with CHG-impregnated wipes, the strategies included daily linen changes, assessment of central-line dressings, ensuring use of the appropriate technique for giving medications, and regular tubing and cap changes on the lines.
“We took great care to ensure successful implementation of the new bathing regimen,” said Adam N. Karcz, an infection preventionist at the hospital.
“By educating everyone on the care team, including parents, and standardizing bathing procedures, we were able to dramatically reduce infections and save healthcare dollars in just 6 months.”
Bathing compliance increased from 45% to 81% during the 6-month study period. During the control period—6 months prior to implementation—the 269-bed hospital had 22 CLABSIs. During the implementation period, there were 9 CLABSIs.
The hospital also experienced a 56% drop in the number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections during this time period.
The reduction in healthcare-associated infections during the implementation period represents a potential cost savings of $297,999.
