Limiting central venous catheter access for blood sampling and its impact on central line-associated bloodstream infection: A scoping review

Abstract

Background Central venous catheters (CVCs) pose a risk of infection through fluid infusion, medication administration, and blood draws. We conducted a scoping review evaluating the risk of accessing a CVC and aiming to identify strategies for limiting CVC usage to decrease the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in hospital settings. Methods This review adheres to the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Searches were conducted in the CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus databases, focusing on publications from the past decade. Results Six studies met inclusion criteria. Three interventions were identified: (1) establishing standardized CVC sampling times, (2) utilizing phlebotomists to perform peripheral blood cultures, and (3) avoiding the use of CVCs for both blood cultures and routine blood draws. Conclusions Increased frequency of CVC access is associated with a higher risk of CLABSI. Interventions to reduce CVC access for blood draws can effectively lower CLABSI rates. Identifying and implementing strategies such as use of phlebotomy teams and standardized sampling protocols may help guide hospital policies and improve patient safety outcomes. Future research should focus on prospective evaluation of these approaches.