Programs Central Line Associated Bacteraemia in Intensive Care Units
Central line insertion is a frequently performed invasive procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients in ICU's are at high risk of health care associated infections, including central line associated blood stream infections (CLAB), many of which are considered preventable.
The Central Line Associated Bacteraemia in Intensive Care Units project (CLAB-ICU) is a NSW statewide initiative that aims to improve patient outcomes by reducing CLAB in ICUs. It advocates a standard sterile insertion practice. The project is overseen by the Intensive Care Coordination and Monitoring Unit (ICCMU) and the Clinical Excellence Commission, with the cooperation of the NSW Health Department, Quality and Safety Branch. All level 5 and 6 Intensive Care Units are participating.
CLAB ICU is the first collaborative between the ICCMU and CEC providing an opportunity for clinicians to drive change at the coal face.
Program Overview
How it works
The project uses a top down bottom up collaborative methodology based on a quality improvement program which has been successfully implemented in the United States and demonstrates compliance with maximal sterile barrier precautions can result in a reduction in CLAB. The project promotes appropriate hand hygiene, skin preparation and maximal sterile barrier precautions during insertion.
Intensive care specialists have developed practice guidelines and an insertion checklist to support sterile insertion of central lines.
Program Participation
What's in it for participating ICU's?
The project is making significant contributions in developing a framework for CLAB reduction in NSW, creating resources and networks and standardising care. Participating units can access the following resources to support local practice:
- Insertion checklist: record of procedure that encourages compliance with policy
- An education and training framework to improve transferability of skill, recognition of prior competence between units and improve patient safety and care
- E-learning tools to support standard education and training available in 2009
- Regular compliance reports to support clinical governance and celebrate excellence in care
- A standardised central line procedure pack will be available on statewide tender in early 2009
- Posters to maintain awareness of current information
Resources
Newsletters
- November 2008PDF - ~305kb | ~20kb
- July 2008 - ~510kb | ~26kb
- April 2008 - ~162kb | ~13kb
- February 2008 - ~49kb | ~18kb
Posters
- 6 key elements for safe insertion of central lines - PDF ~1238kb
- ICU CLAB definition and reporting - PDF ~148kb
- ICU CLAB detection and reporting flowchart - PDF ~164kb
Tools
- Insertion checklist - PDF ~896kb
- Tally tool for collection of patient line days and record of ICU CLAB events - XLS ~226kb
For more information read the ICU CLAB data collection FAQ - PDF ~197k | TXT ~8kb - Education and Training Framework - PDF ~288kb | TXT ~17kb
Publications
- CLAB ICU Project Scope - PDF ~157kb | TXT ~43kb
- Nursing Care of Central Venous Catheters in Adult Intensive Care: NSW Health Statewide Guidelines for Intensive Care - PDF ~1837kb | TXT ~757kb
- Healthcare Associated Infection: Clinical Indicator Manual Version 2.0 - PDF ~1.79mb | TXT ~76kb
Contact
Please direct queries and correspondence to:
CLAB ICU Project Coordinator
Margherita Murgo
Clinical Excellence Commission
PO Box 1614
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Useful Links
- Intensive Care Coordination & Monitoring Unit (ICCMU)
- The Infection Control Association NSW Inc (ICA) - the NSW Branch of the Australian Infection Control Association (AICA)
- Healthcare Infection Control Special Interest Group (HICSIG) of ASID
- Queensland Health - CHRISP I-Care Project - Preventing intravascular device (IVD) related Bloodstream infections (BSI's)
