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An intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU.
Pronovost P, Needham D, Berenholtz S, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:2725-2732.
 

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) remain a common and deadly patient safety issue in intensive care units (ICUs), although prior research has defined several effective preventive strategies. In the “Keystone ICU” project, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 103 ICUs in Michigan participated in a statewide safety initiative, including instituting five evidence-based preventive strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The project focused on changing provider behavior through addressing safety culture, incorporating a centralized education program for team leaders at each institution, and closely collaborating with infection control personnel. The intervention was remarkably successful, nearly eliminating CRBSI entirely in most ICUs over an 18-month follow-up period. A related editorial lauds the success of the intervention and calls for all U.S. hospitals to adopt similar programs.

 
icon indicating hyperlink to external website PubMed citation

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icon indicating hyperlink to external website Related editorial

 
Resource Type:  Journal Article > Study

Setting of Care:  Hospitals > General Hospitals > Intensive Care Units

Target Audience:  Health Care Executives and Administrators > Facility and Group Administrators

   Health Care Executives and Administrators > Risk Managers

   Health Care Executives and Administrators > Quality and Safety Professionals

Clinical Area:  Medicine > Critical Care

Safety Target:  Device-related Complications > Indwelling Tubes and Catheters

   Medical Complications > Nosocomial Infections

Error Types:  Epidemiology of Errors and Adverse Events

Approach to Improving Safety:  Human Factors Engineering > Checklists

   Culture of Safety

   Education and Training

Origin/Sponsor:  North America > United States of America
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