BACKGROUND: Some catheter-related bloodstream infections originate from catheter connectors; therefore, improved antisepsis of these might be expected to reduce the incidence of such infections. METHODS: In this observational before/after study at a pediatric tertiary referral hospital, inpatients up to 16 years old undergoing hemopoietic stem cell transplants were studied. Catheter connection antisepsis was changed from 70% isopropanol alone to 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropanol. Numbers of catheter-related bloodstream infections before and after the change were monitored as were the numbers of catheter days experienced by patients. RESULTS: The infection rate before the change was 12 per 1000 catheter-days, and, following the change, this fell to 3 per 1000 catheter-days (P=.004). Similar falls followed the introduction of chlorhexidine to other wards. CONCLUSION: The introduction of chlorhexidine was followed by a profound, sustained fall in catheter-related infections. The results support the 2007 United Kingdom guidelines recommending 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropanol as a disinfectant of needleless connectors and hubs of central venous catheters.
BACKGROUND: Some catheter-related bloodstream infections originate from catheter connectors; therefore, improved antisepsis of these might be expected to reduce the incidence of such infections. METHODS: In this observational before/after study at a pediatric tertiary referral hospital, inpatients up to 16 years old undergoing hemopoietic stem cell transplants were studied. Catheter connection antisepsis was changed from 70% isopropanol alone to 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropanol. Numbers of catheter-related bloodstream infections before and after the change were monitored as were the numbers of catheter days experienced by patients. RESULTS: The infection rate before the change was 12 per 1000 catheter-days, and, following the change, this fell to 3 per 1000 catheter-days (P=.004). Similar falls followed the introduction of chlorhexidine to other wards. CONCLUSION: The introduction of chlorhexidine was followed by a profound, sustained fall in catheter-related infections. The results support the 2007 United Kingdom guidelines recommending 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropanol as a disinfectant of needleless connectors and hubs of central venous catheters.
Authors: V D Rosenthal; B Ramachandran; W Villamil-Gómez; A Armas-Ruiz; J A Navoa-Ng; L Matta-Cortés; M Pawar; A Nevzat-Yalcin; M Rodríguez-Ferrer; R D Yıldızdaş; A Menco; R Campuzano; V D Villanueva; L F Rendon-Campo; A Gupta; O Turhan; N Barahona-Guzmán; O O Horoz; P Arrieta; J M Brito; M C V Tolentino; Y Astudillo; N Saini; N Gunay; G Sarmiento-Villa; E Gumus; A Lagares-Guzmán; O Dursun Journal: Infection Date: 2012-02-28 Impact factor: 3.553
Authors: Naomi P O'Grady; Mary Alexander; Lillian A Burns; E Patchen Dellinger; Jeffrey Garland; Stephen O Heard; Pamela A Lipsett; Henry Masur; Leonard A Mermel; Michele L Pearson; Issam I Raad; Adrienne G Randolph; Mark E Rupp; Sanjay Saint Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Naomi P O'Grady; Mary Alexander; Lillian A Burns; E Patchen Dellinger; Jeffrey Garland; Stephen O Heard; Pamela A Lipsett; Henry Masur; Leonard A Mermel; Michele L Pearson; Issam I Raad; Adrienne G Randolph; Mark E Rupp; Sanjay Saint Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2011-04-01 Impact factor: 9.079