Best vascular access means and practices can keep CLABSI and other complications away

In 1832, Dr Thomas Latta used a quill to cannulate the vein and used pig’s veins to infuse Latta’s solution and save lives. Today, cholera is not the scourge it used to be. But the intravenous route continues to be used to save lives in all hospitals.So much so that as many as 60 to 90 out of every 100 patients hospitalized in the US receive some intravenous therapy.1We have advanced devices and gained ample experience to reach the bloodstream using central vascular access devices(CVADs) or the more common peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs). Patients and medical professionals now tend to take the success of IV therapy for granted. Unfortunately, today we also deal with complications like bloodstream infections lethal enough to take the lives of patients andtarnish the reputation of both medical professionals and hospitals.

Costly complications and their causes

In the case of CVADs, central line-associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) is the most serious complication. This can kill 25% of the patients it infects, and to make the prognosis gloomier, 28%3 of CLABSIs are resistant to antimicrobials in long term acute care settings. Each occurrence of CLABSI can cost more than $45,000.4 Common causes of CLABSI include contamination on insertion, contaminated IV components or infusion, blood-borne infectionfrom another body site, and non-intact dressing. Poor hygiene and neglect of central line maintenance are the two most significant causes attributed to hospital staff. The most common PIVC complications are phlebitis or swollen vein, infiltration, extravasation, occlusion and dislodgement of the catheter.5 CLABSIs are estimated to cost $45,000 per occurrence every year to the US healthcare system.4 Unnecessary PIVC restarts can cost nearly $30 per device.1Apart from the economic burden on both the patient and the hospital, every complication can compromise treatment outcome, aggravate pain, and discomfort, and prolong hospital stay. Most significantly, every bloodstream infection can corrode the confidence and morale of the team and tarnish the reputation of the hospital.

Best practices in vascular access management

It is estimated that from insertion to removal, each vascular access device is touched numerous times by different people. That is almost twice the number of times a dollar bill is estimated to be touched in a year. While hand hygiene has become a survival mantra for all on account of the COVID-19 crisis, it has always been a necessity for hospital personnel. However, that is just one of the best practices for those involved in vascular access management. Other recommended practices pertaining to the selection of the insertion site, skin preparation, device securement, correct use of connections, dressing management and flushing protocol. Are you concerned with or responsible for preventing and managing infections in your hospital? Would you like to work with BD India to control, if not eliminate, IV therapy complications?

You may want to begin by downloading our booklet Care Bundles Stop Infections.

As the global leader in intravenous therapy devices and practices, BD India recommends five strategies to minimize vascular access complications.

Let us begin the countdown to make your hospital infection-free!

Download Care Bundles Stop Infections