ICU infection prevention effort saves lives, money
Nurses at the University of Maryland Medical Center's surgical intensive care unit (SICU) cut central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) to zero over a 25-week period, according to results of a six-month nursing initiative presented June 28 at the 38 Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) in Baltimore.
Compared with the same time period a year prior, the SICU eliminated 14 CLABSIs and saved two to three lives, as well as more than $200,000, according to APIC. The study period took place from July to December 2010.
The hospital appointed dedicated infection control nurses (ICNs) to oversee central line catheter insertions, according to APIC, and the effort was conducted in partnership with Director of Medical Surgical Nursing Christina Cafeo. An infection control nurse oversaw every central line insertion for breaks in technique and breaches in hand hygiene, according to APIC, and held daily meetings and incentive programs to keep hospital staff engaged.
“It was truly a back-to-basics effort—these were just best practices at a granular level, led by the unit themselves. The nurses on the unit took ownership of best practices and drove the change,” said Michael Anne Preas, RN, infection preventionist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. “When you have one of your own in the lead, and are reminding each other and encouraging each other to do your best, everybody gets on board, and this is what we saw.”
According to association, the average cost of a CLABSI is about $18,000. By eliminating 14 CLABSIs—the number which occurred during the same time period a year earlier—the team saved $258,000, less $44,000 for a nurses six-month salary.
Compared with the same time period a year prior, the SICU eliminated 14 CLABSIs and saved two to three lives, as well as more than $200,000, according to APIC. The study period took place from July to December 2010.
The hospital appointed dedicated infection control nurses (ICNs) to oversee central line catheter insertions, according to APIC, and the effort was conducted in partnership with Director of Medical Surgical Nursing Christina Cafeo. An infection control nurse oversaw every central line insertion for breaks in technique and breaches in hand hygiene, according to APIC, and held daily meetings and incentive programs to keep hospital staff engaged.
“It was truly a back-to-basics effort—these were just best practices at a granular level, led by the unit themselves. The nurses on the unit took ownership of best practices and drove the change,” said Michael Anne Preas, RN, infection preventionist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. “When you have one of your own in the lead, and are reminding each other and encouraging each other to do your best, everybody gets on board, and this is what we saw.”
According to association, the average cost of a CLABSI is about $18,000. By eliminating 14 CLABSIs—the number which occurred during the same time period a year earlier—the team saved $258,000, less $44,000 for a nurses six-month salary.