More News about Reducing Blood Stream Infections

As readers of this blog know, INQRI researchers at Johns Hopkins University have conducted the first randomized-control trial to reduce central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) among ICU patients. This study, conducted in ICUs in 12 states, has shown in preliminary analysis that substantial reductions in infections can be widely achieved and this project did so with nurses leading the infection control efforts.

With a growing cultural emphasis on patient safety and increased quality, this work comes at a very important time. However, although the goal of reducing infections is widely held, it is not always easily accomplished. In Delaware, Wilmington Hospital has (for a year) had the highest rate of mostly preventable infections, with a rate among the highest in the nation. Click here to read about this hospital's struggle to reduce infections.