Sparks Quality Control
A central line or central venous catheter refers to a catheter that is inserted into one of the greater vessels for the administration of fluids, medications, or to obtain certain blood tests.
Central lines are increasingly being used in the inpatient and outpatient settings to provide long-term venous access.
Central line infections can spread to the bloodstream and cause organ dysfunction and even death. Nationally, 18% of central line infections end in death and accounts for an estimated 28,000 deaths per year. Realizing the debilitating affects of these infections, Sparks Health System incorporates five best-practice techniques for the care of patients with central lines in place, these are:
- 1. Hand hygiene
- 2. Sterile techniques when placing the catheter
- 3. Cleaning the site with a specialized antiseptic prior to catheter insertion
- 4. Inserting the catheter into the subclavian vein when appropriate
- 5. Daily review to determine if the catheter is still necessary.
Studies have shown that the potential impact of implementing the above practices are striking reductions in the rate of central line infections and that Intensive Care Units can nearly eliminated central line blood stream infections altogether.