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CDC updates catheter-related bloodstream infections guidelines
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The CDC has issued updated guidelines outlining steps to eliminate catheter-related bloodstream infections, expanding and revising previous guidelines established in 2002.
“Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections,” published April 1 on the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) website, emphasize the education and proper training of health care personnel; using maximal sterile barrier precautions when inserting catheters; cleaning the skin with chlorhexidine; and avoiding routine replacement of certain catheters.
The guidelines, which were developed by the Critical Care Medicine Department (CCMD) at the NIH Clinical Center and 14 other professional organizations, will also be published in a special supplement to the American Journal of Infection Control.
As part of the Department of Health and Human Services action plan to prevent hospital-acquired infections, hospitals are now required to track and report all central line-associated bloodstream infections in ICUs to remain eligible for annual Medicare payment increases.
“Catheter-related bloodstream infections, like many infections in health care, are now seen as largely preventable,” said Naomi O’Grady, MD, medical director of procedures, vascular access and conscious sedation of the CCMD at the NIH Clinical Center. “Implementation of these critical infection control guidelines is an important benchmark of health care quality and patient safety. Education and reinforcement of care and maintenance protocols among staff is key.”
For more information:
- CDC. 2011 Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/BSI/index.html. Accessed April 5, 2011.
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