An audit programme for central venous catheter-associated infections

Central venous catheters (CVC) are commonly associated with both localized and systemic infection. This paper describes an audit programme which was designed to review clinical practice associated with the insertion and subsequent care of CVC and their possible relationship to the development of infection. The programme was produced by a joint working group of the Hospital Infection Society and the Research Unit of the Royal College of Physicians and is subdivided into an audit of hospital practices and patient management associated with the use of CVC. It consists of a number of questions designed to evaluate all areas of CVC use, including the assessment of the incidence of associated local and systemic infection. Use of the questionnaire should allow policies for CVC insertion and care to be reviewed thereby facilitating improvements, which may in turn reduce the incidence of infection associated with CVC.