For the study, researchers polled a random sampling of infection preventionists from 528 acute care hospitals nationwide in 2017.
The survey asked respondents to share how they are preventing three types of device-related infections: catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Here is a breakdown of what practices or technologies hospitals reported using to prevent each infection type:
CAUTI
- Portable bladder ultrasound scanners — 73.2 percent of hospitals
- Urinary catheter reminders or stop-orders — 75.3 percent
- Silver alloy Foley catheters — 26.8 percent
- Aseptic technique during catheter insertion and maintenance — 90 percent
- Established surveillance system for monitoring urinary tract infection rates facilitywide — 93.2 percent
CLABSI
- Maximum sterile barrier precautions during central line insertion — nearly 100 percent
- Chlorhexidine gluconate for insertion site antisepsis — nearly 100 percent
- Antimicrobial-coated catheters — 40.7 percent
- Antimicrobial dressing with chlorhexidine — 89.1 percent
- Established surveillance system for monitoring CLABSI rates facilitywide — 92.8 percent
VAP
- Semirecumbent positioning of the patient — 98.2 percent
- Antimicrobial mouth rinse — 83.6 percent
- Subglottic secretion drainage — 57.6 percent
- Topical and/or systemic antibiotics for selective digestive tract decontamination — 24.4 percent
- Established surveillance system for monitoring VAP rates facilitywide — 93.6 percent
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