Newark, Del.-based Christiana Care Health System implemented the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to considerable success. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Two intensive care units at the community-based academic healthcare system incorporated the CUSP tools into their local interventions to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections and other safety problems.
Highlighted below are three findings recorded following implementation of the program.
1. CLABSIs decreased from 3.9 per 1,000 catheter days at the baseline to 1.2 during the CUSP period to 0.6 during the post-CUSP period.
2. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections decreased from 2.4 per 1,000 patient days to 1.2 during the post-CUSP period.
3. The ventilator-associated pneumonia rate decreased from 2.7 per 1,000 ventilator days to 1.6 during the CUSP and post-CUSP periods.
In addition to the reduction in infections, device utilization also decreased significantly in both ICUs.
"The CUSP model, allowing for implementation of evidence-based practices and engagement of frontline staff, creates sustainable improvements that reach far beyond the initial targeted problem," concluded the study authors.
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