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Novel Strategies of Preventing Catheter-Related Infections in the ICU

  • Chapter
Catheter-Related Infections in the Critically Ill

Part of the book series: Perspectives on Critical Care Infectious Diseases ((CCID,volume 8))

  • 117 Accesses

Conclusions

CR-BSIs are not simply an acceptable consequence of central venous access and invasive monitoring. The false perception of invisible risk, the underestimation of individual responsibility, passive attitudes regarding the complexity of the process of care, and the financial constraints that contribute to understaffing play an important role in the failure to implement prevention strategies. Many CR-BSIs are preventable infections that need to be approached systematically at a multidisciplinary level that emphasizes patient safety and quality improvement. Taking advantage of new technology such as chlorehexidine for skin antisepsis, and antiseptic or antibiotic impregnated catheters, chlorehexidine impregnated dressings, may be a useful means of reducing catheter-related infections. What is not known is whether each technology contributes additively, synergistically, or not at all. In other words, does one need all of these strategies, or will one of them suffice? In the absence of data, it seems logical to utilize these strategies in a systematic way that incorporates performance measures to evaluate the impact that each intervention has in a given ICU setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Warren Magnusen Clinical Center, Critical Care Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

    Naomi P. O’Grady M.D.

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  1. Naomi P. O’Grady M.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Critical Care Medicine Department Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive Building 10, Room 7D43, Bethesda, MD, 20892

    Naomi P. O’Grady M.D.

  2. University Hospital Infection Control Program Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland

    Didier Pittet M.D.

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O’Grady, N.P. (2004). Novel Strategies of Preventing Catheter-Related Infections in the ICU. In: O’Grady, N.P., Pittet, D. (eds) Catheter-Related Infections in the Critically Ill. Perspectives on Critical Care Infectious Diseases, vol 8. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-8010-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-8010-7_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8009-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8010-4

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