Cookson ST, Ihrig M, O'Mara EM, Denny M, Volk H, Banerjee SN, Hartstein AI, Jarvis WR. Increased bloodstream infection rates in surgical patients associated with variation from recommended use and care following implementation of a needleless device.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1998;
19:23-7. [PMID:
9475345 DOI:
10.1086/647702]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine if an apparent increase in bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) was associated with the implementation of a needleless access device.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study using a derived CVC-days factor for estimating appropriate denominator data.
SETTING
A 350-bed urban, acute, tertiary-care hospital.
METHODS
BSI surveillance data were obtained, and high-risk areas for BSIs were determined. A random 5% sample of medical records was used to estimate CVC days, and a cohort study was conducted to compare BSI rates before and during needleless device use. A survey was conducted of nursing needleless-device practices.
RESULTS
The surgical intensive-care unit (SICU), the medical intensive-care unit, and the solid organ transplant unit (OTU) were identified as high-risk units. Using existing surveillance BSI data and the estimated CVC days, the catheter-related BSI rates in the high-risk surgical patients were significantly higher during the needleless-device period compared with the preneedleless-device period (SICU, 9.4 vs 5.0/1,000 CVC days; OTU, 13.6 vs 2.2/1,000 CVC days). A survey of the nurses revealed that 60% to 70% were maintaining the needleless devices correctly.
CONCLUSION
We observed a significant increase in the BSI rate in two surgical units, SICU and OTU, associated with introduction of a needleless device. This increase occurred shortly after the needleless device was implemented and was associated with nurses' unfamiliarity with the device, and needless-device use and care practices different from the manufacturer's recommendations.
Collapse