Removing excess vascular catheters and catheter lumens may help reduce the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections, according to a study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Researchers looked at the number of available catheters in an inpatient hospital and compared that number to how many catheters were used in a day.
The study found 15.1 percent of patients had an "inappropriate number" of catheters, and 43.6 percent of nonarterial catheter lumens were considered unnecessary.
The authors suggest that improving the accuracy and adequacy of the number of catheters and catheter lumens may help reduce CLABSIs.
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