A care bundle for management of central venous catheters.

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are an essential tool in paediatric intensive care, providing a means to monitor patient haemodynamics and to administer fluids, nutrition, blood products and medications. Because multiple factors contribute to the high risk of catheter related infection, a multi-strategy approach is required to prevent such infections. Using contemporary literature and clinical audit findings a 'care bundle' was created for use within the PICU at Birmingham Children's Hospital. This care bundle groups together best practices in order to prevent catheter related bloodstream infection.