Improving hand hygiene practices to reduce clabsi rates: Nurses education integral for success

Abstract

Health-care-associated infections are a huge concern in the intensive care units (ICUs) across the globe.1 Nearly 90% of catheter-related bloodstream infections are caused by central venous catheters (CVCs).2 CVCs are commonly inserted in critically ill patients and play an important role for hemodynamic monitoring and delivery of crucial treatments. Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a laboratory confirmed bloodstream infection occurring in a patient with a CVC in place for >48 hours that is not related to an infection at any other site.3 The 2016 International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report shows a CLABSI rate of 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, in 861,284 medical and surgical patients in ICUs in the developing countries, which is almost five times higher than 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days in comparable ICUs from the USA.4 CLABSI results in significant morbidity, mortality, increased hospital stay and cost, making prevention crucial for patient safety.5.