Development of a clinical practice guideline for weaning and discontinuing parenteral nutrition in hospitalized children as part of a central line–associated bloodstream infection–focused quality improvement initiative

Background Overprescribing of parenteral nutrition (PN) increases costs and risks to patients, including from central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). With CLABSI reduction in mind, our children's hospital began an iterative quality improvement effort to decrease PN utilization by first ensuring appropriate initiation and then defining and ensuring appropriate discontinuation. Methods Education was launched along with audits to evaluate for appropriate PN indications. Next, a literature review was conducted to guide the development of an algorithm to appropriately wean and discontinue PN. Lastly, all PN discontinuations were audited for agreement with the new guideline. Retrospectively, monthly PN utilization index (orders per patient‐day) was plotted on a statistical process control chart to assess change over time. The presence of PN as a risk factor for CLABSI events and the overall hospital CLABSI rate were trended. Results Mean PN utilization index fell from 0.156 (July 2018 to January 2019) to 0.12 (February 2019 to August 2020) (P < .01). For 18 months, no PN utilization index reached the baseline lower control limit of 0.144, demonstrating special‐cause variation and sustained change. PN as a risk factor for hospital CLABSI cases decreased from most prevalent (49% of cases) to fifth most prevalent (29%) as the CLABSI rate trended down. Conclusion Engaging frontline staff in the development of a clinical practice guideline and increased accountability to reduce potential patient harm led to a significant and sustained reduction in PN utilization, as well as decreased prevalence of PN as a risk factor in hospital CLABSI cases.