Multidisciplinary Central-Line Bundle Audit Rounding: A Strategy to Reduce CLABSIs

Background: Central venous catheter (CVC) maintenance bundle elements, including labeling IV tubing and dressings, consistently changing them, intact dressings, and dry healthy insertion sites, together have been shown to reduce risks of developing central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). 1,2 CLABSIs are a significant, but preventable, cause of mortality among critically ill patients. 3 In the last 12 months, the 16-bed medical intensive care unit (MICU) at a large, urban, academic facility had 2,621 central-line days, presenting many opportunities for CLABSI prevention. During that time, weekly observations assessed compliance with CVC maintenance bundle elements. Interventions: Multidisciplinary rounds were conducted to monitor nursing staff adherence to CVC maintenance bundle elements. The following bundle elements observed during rounds: (1) Is central-line dressing occlusive/intact? (2) Is CVC insertion site healthy with no redness/drainage? (3) Is CVC dressing labeled with insertion date? (4) Date/time of last dressing change adheres to policy? (4) All CVC tubing is labeled with date/time? (5) All CVC tubing dates adhere to policy? (6) If stopcock is present, is cap present over unused port? “Just-in-time” staff coaching was employed when noncompliance was observed. Findings were sent to leadership for manager follow-up. Staff were informed about products available within the hospital, which can improve dressing adherence and mitigate insertion-site bleeding. Education was provided to staff defining exact requirements for CVC dressings. The acronym “IDOL” was used to help remind staff of these fundamentals: (1) Intact dressing borders are well adhered, with