OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bathing patients with 2% chlorhexidine on the rates of central vascular catheter (CVC)-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) at a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING: A 70-bed LTACH in the greater Chicago area. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients admitted to the LTACH during the period from February 2006 to February 2008. METHODS: For patients at the LTACH, daily 2% chlorhexidine baths were instituted during the period from September 2006 until May 2007 (ie, the intervention period). A preintervention period (in which patients were given daily soap-and-water baths) and a postintervention period (in which patients were given daily nonmedicated baths and weekly 2% chlorhexidine baths) were also observed. The rates of CVC-associated BSI and ventilator-associated pneumonia were analyzed for the intervention period and for the pre- and postintervention periods. RESULTS: The rates of CVC-associated BSI were 9.5, 3.8, and 6.4 cases per 1,000 CVC-days during the preintervention, intervention, and postintervention periods, respectively. By the end of the intervention period, there was a net reduction of 99% in the CVC-associated BSI rate. No changes were seen in the rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia during the preintervention and intervention periods. CONCLUSION: Daily chlorhexidine baths appeared to be an effective intervention to reduce rates of CVC-associated BSI in an LTACH.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bathing patients with 2% chlorhexidine on the rates of central vascular catheter (CVC)-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) at a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING: A 70-bed LTACH in the greater Chicago area. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients admitted to the LTACH during the period from February 2006 to February 2008. METHODS: For patients at the LTACH, daily 2% chlorhexidine baths were instituted during the period from September 2006 until May 2007 (ie, the intervention period). A preintervention period (in which patients were given daily soap-and-water baths) and a postintervention period (in which patients were given daily nonmedicated baths and weekly 2% chlorhexidine baths) were also observed. The rates of CVC-associated BSI and ventilator-associated pneumonia were analyzed for the intervention period and for the pre- and postintervention periods. RESULTS: The rates of CVC-associated BSI were 9.5, 3.8, and 6.4 cases per 1,000 CVC-days during the preintervention, intervention, and postintervention periods, respectively. By the end of the intervention period, there was a net reduction of 99% in the CVC-associated BSI rate. No changes were seen in the rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia during the preintervention and intervention periods. CONCLUSION: Daily chlorhexidine baths appeared to be an effective intervention to reduce rates of CVC-associated BSI in an LTACH.
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
Authors: Michael W Climo; Deborah S Yokoe; David K Warren; Trish M Perl; Maureen Bolon; Loreen A Herwaldt; Robert A Weinstein; Kent A Sepkowitz; John A Jernigan; Kakotan Sanogo; Edward S Wong Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2013-02-07 Impact factor: 91.245