1. Guidelines to Prevent Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections

2. Why do I need to complete this orientation?
Problem
Vascular access device-associated infections increase morbidity, mortality, hospital length of stay, and costs.
Education of health care workers decreases healthcare-associated infections.
Intervention
Mandatory course to achieve standardization of infection control practices during central vascular access device (C-VAD) insertion.

3. Why do I need to complete this orientation? (cont.)
Outcome
Education in another center achieved a 28 percent relative reduction in central line infections and saved $800,000. *
Since implementing this orientation, that center’s central line-associated related blood stream infection (CLABSI) rates have decreased below the national average.
*Sherertz, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132(8):

4. Statistics for CLABSIs
90 percent of all blood stream infections are associated with C-VADs.
400,000 CLABSIs occur each year in the United States.
CLABSIs are —
Associated with increased morbidity
Associated with mortality rates of 10 percent to 20 percent
Associated with prolonged hospitalization (mean of 7 days) and increase in medical costs >$28,000

5. National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Rates
In 2003, National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported the number of CLABSIs per 1,000 catheter days based on nationwide intensive care unit (ICU) surveillance.
Table 1 compares ICUs from one academic medical center to national benchmark CLABSI rates.

6. CLABSI Rates per 1,000 Catheter Days
NHSN 90th Percentile
NHSN 50th Percentile
Pre-VAD Training
Post-VAD Training
SICU
9.1
5.3
6.7
0.6
PICU
11.9
7.7
5.5
5.4
CVICU
4.9
2.8
7.6
2.7
MICU
9.8
6.1
7.8
3.3
CCU
7.9
4.6
5.0
1.2
NCCU
8.3
6.6
3.7
OncICU
9.3
4.7
N/A
1.6

7. Risk Factors for CLABSI
Site of insertion — Subclavian vein poses less risk than internal jugular or femoral vein.*
Multiple lumen catheters —
Increased tissue trauma predisposes to CLABSI
More manipulation and contamination of multiple ports/hubs
Total parenteral nutrition and/or lipids
Low nurse to patient ratio
*Merrer, et al. JAMA. 2001;286:700-7

8. Risk Factors for CLABSIs (cont.)
Infection elsewhere (remote, i.e., urinary tract infection or wound) — secondary source
Colonization of catheter with organisms
IV catheterization longer than 72 hours
Inexperience of personnel inserting the C-VAD
Use of stopcocks

9. Process of Catheter-Related Infections

10. Five Evidence-Based Steps to Prevent CLABSI
Use appropriate hand hygiene.
Use chlorhexidine for skin preparation.
Use full-barrier precautions during central venous catheter insertion.
Avoid using the femoral vein for catheters in adult patients.
Remove unnecessary catheters.

11. Hand Hygiene
Wash hands with soap and water or use a waterless hand sanitizer —
Before and after invasive procedures
Between patients
After removing gloves
Before eating
After using the bathroom
If contamination is suspected

12. Teaching Hospital, Switzerland
Hand Hygiene Works!
Year
Author
Setting
Comparison Group
Results
1982
Maki
ICU (U.S.)
Crossover
↓ Nosocomial Infection
1984
Massanari
2000
Pittet
Teaching Hospital, Switzerland
Observational
↓ Nosocomial Infection ↓ MRSA Rates

13. Waterless Hand Hygiene Steps
Coat all surfaces of your hands thoroughly with waterless hand sanitizer, including palms, in between fingers, under fingernails, backs of hands, and around wrists.
Rub your hands briskly until they feel comfortably dry.
It takes about 15 seconds, and no water or towels are needed.

14. Hand Washing Steps Wet hands. Obtain soap.
Lather for 10 to 15 seconds.
Rinse hands.
Turn off faucet handles with paper towel.

15. C-VAD Site Selection
Use the subclavian site unless medically contraindicated (e.g., patient has an anatomic deformity, coagulopathy, or has renal disease that may require dialysis).

16. C-VAD Site Selection: Special Considerations
For patients on hemodialysis, the National Kidney Foundation’s 2000 guidelines recommended against the use of the subclavian vein for any VAD unless use of the internal jugular vein is absolutely contraindicated. This is due to the risk of subclavian vein stenosis.
If the internal jugular vein is chosen, use the right side to reduce the risk of noninfectious complications.

17. C-VAD Line Selection
Use a single lumen C-VAD, unless multiple lumens are absolutely necessary.
Consider a tunneled or implanted C-VAD for patients requiring long-term access (>30 days) or a PICC or cuffed C-VAD for patients requiring therapy for >1 week.
Evaluate the need for C-VAD daily.
Remove it when not needed or change to a single lumen C-VAD when possible.

18. Aseptic Technique: Goals
Remove transient organisms and soil from the skin.
Reduce the number of resident microbial flora and inhibit their rebound growth.
Create a sterile working surface that acts as a barrier between the insertion site and any possible source of contamination.

19. Aseptic Technique
Prepare skin with antiseptic/detergent chlorhexidine 2 percent in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol.
Pinch the wings on the “ChloraPrep” applicator to pop the ampule. Hold the applicator down to allow the solution to saturate the pad. Press the sponge against skin and apply chlorhexidine solution using a back-and-forth friction scrub for at least 30 seconds. Do not wipe or blot.
Allow the antiseptic solution time to dry completely before puncturing the site. This may take 2 minutes.

20. Evidence Supporting Chlorhexidine Use: Skin Prep−Meta Analysis
Pooled RR
for BSI
Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:

21. Maximal Barriers Required for C-VAD Insertion
Use face mask, cap, and sterile gloves.
Wear a sterile gown with neck snaps and wrap-around ties properly secured.
Instruct anyone assisting you to wear the same barriers.
Cover the patient entirely with a large sterile drape.

22. Maximal Barrier Precautions Decrease CLABSI Infections
Author
Design
Catheter Type
OR for Infection Without MBR
Mermel/1990
Prospective, cross-sectional
Swan-Ganz
2.2 (p<0.03)
Raad/1994
Prospective, randomized
Central
6.3 (p<0.03)
OR = odds ratio
MBR = maximal barrier precautions. Inserter washes hands and wears mask, cap, sterile gown, and sterile gloves. Patient’s head and body are covered with a large, sterile drape.

23. Caveats: Catheter Insertion
IV antimicrobial prophylaxis does not reduce CLABSI.*
Insertion of C-VADs through open techniques/cut down increases the risk of CLABSI.
Adequate room is needed to perform the procedure without risk of contamination.
*Ranson. J Hosp Infect. 1990;15(1):

24. Post Insertion: C-VAD Care
Antimicrobial ointments do not reduce the incidence of CLABSI.
A sterile dressing should be applied to the insertion site before the sterile barriers are removed.
Transparent dressings are preferred to allow visualization of the site. However, if the insertion site is oozing, apply a gauze dressing instead of a transparent dressing.
When the C-VAD dressing becomes damp, loosened, or soiled or after lifting the dressing to inspect the site, replace the dressing.

25. Replacing C-VADs Lines should be removed as soon as possible.
Routine C-VAD guidewire exchange or site rotation is not recommended.*
Guidewire exchange is acceptable for replacing a malfunctioning catheter or downsizing a pulmonary artery catheter to a central venous catheter.
Patients who clearly have a CLABSI should not undergo a guidewire exchange.
Selected patients with suspected blood stream infections and limited venous access may have their catheter exchanged over a guidewire and the catheter tip should be cultured. Before handling the new catheter, switch to a new set of sterile gloves.
*Eyer, et al. Crit Care Med. 1990;18(10):

26. Suspected C-VAD Infections
Remove the C-VAD in a patient with proven CLABSI (i.e., blood culture positive for a recognized pathogen with no identified secondary source).
If a blood stream infection is only suspected, the C-VAD is not known to be the source, or the C-VAD cannot be removed, clinical judgment is necessary. Extensive, evidence-based guidelines exist for the diagnosis and treatment of catheter-related infections.*
*Mermel, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;32(9):

27. Suspected C-VAD Infections (cont.)
Draw two sets of blood cultures from a patient with new episode of suspected C-VAD infection, preferably both sets peripherally.
It is not always necessary to remove the C-VAD in a mildly ill patient with unexplained fever.
If the catheter is the suspected source of the infection, it can be changed over a wire and cultured. If the catheter culture grows 15 colony forming units of organisms, remove it and place at a different site.
Tailor antimicrobial therapy to the individual patient based on severity of illness, suspected pathogen, and presence of complicating factors.

28. C-VAD Line Cultures: Indications
The utility of catheter cultures is controversial; nonetheless, proper technique is imperative to evaluate the data.
The catheter tip may be submitted for semiquantitative culture if there is clinical suspicion of CLABSI.
Routinely removed catheters should not be sent for culture.

29. C-VAD Line Cultures: Method
Remove all dressings and cap off all hubs/ports then paint the site with antiseptic solution and include within the sterile field.
Remove C-VAD en bloc. Under no circumstance should catheters be cut prior to removal.
Remove the catheter aseptically, avoiding contact with the patient’s skin and catheter tray.
Use sterile scissors (not the scalpel used to cut the C-VAD sutures) to cut a 5 cm segment, including the tip, and place it in a culture container.

30. C-VAD Line Cultures: Interpretation
A catheter culture yield of ³15 colony forming unit, accompanied by signs and/or symptoms of infection is consistent with a catheter-related infection.
Do not give antibiotics based on a positive catheter culture only. Evaluate the clinical picture.

31. Blood Cultures
Patients with a new episode of suspected catheter-related infection should have two sets of peripheral blood samples drawn for culture.
In rare instances where access for peripheral blood draws is limited, one set may be drawn from the line and one set may be drawn percutaneously.

32. Peripheral Blood Cultures: Method
Don sterile gloves and observe standard precautions.
Apply chlorhexidine 2 percent in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (ChloraPrep Frepp) using a back-and-forth friction rub for at least 30 seconds over a 5 cm area.
Allow the solution time to dry completely before puncturing the skin.
Do not touch the venipuncture site after skin prep except with sterile gloves.
Insert the needle into the vein and withdraw 20 cc of blood (adults).
Distribute the blood evenly between two culture bottles (10 cc per bottle), taking care not to inject air into the anaerobic bottle.
Always send a second set of blood cultures from a separate venipuncture site.

33. Arterial Line: Site Selection
Radial artery is the preferred site.
Dorsalis pedis is an alternative site.
Femoral sites have higher infection rates and risk of thrombosis.
Brachial/maxillary sites are a last resort because of the lack of collateral circulation.

34. Arterial Lines: Aseptic Technique
As with C-VADs, always:
Clean your hands with soap and water or waterless hand cleaner.
Maintain standard precautions.
Perform thorough skin preparation.
Use barrier protection.

35. Arterial Lines: Barriers
For radial or dorsalis pedis sites, create a generous sterile working surface using sterile drapes. Wear sterile gloves and a mask with face shield.
Femoral or axillary arterial catheters may increase the risk of infection and require maximum barriers as with C-VADs, including mask, sterile gloves, sterile gown, and large sterile drape.

36. Special Thanks
Sean Berenholtz, M.D. Roy Brower, M.D. Raphe Consunji, M.D. Sara Cosgrove, M.D. Pamela Lipsett, M.D. Trish Perl, M.D. Peter Pronovost, M.D. Lisa Cooper, R.N.