Infection Prevention Pilot Slashes CLABSI by 35%

More than 350 hospitals in 22 states in a national pilot project to tackle central line-associated bloodstream infections in their adult intensive care units are reporting CLABSI reductions of 35%, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

An interim report issued Tuesday by AHRQ, On the CUSP: Stop BSI, found that CLABSI rates dropped from an average of 1.8 infections per 1,000 central line days to an average of 1.17 infections per 1,000 central line days in ICUs that participated in the project.

The project is led by the Health Research & Educational Trust, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association. "AHRQ's vision of spreading a proven method of reducing these infections to all states has demonstrated its innovative leadership in patient safety, and HRET is proud to be part of this groundbreaking work along with Johns Hopkins and the MHA Keystone Center," said John R. Combes, MD, AHA senior vice-president and senior fellow at HRET, in a statement.

About 1,100 hospitals in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have enrolled in the national effort, which is based on a Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Center project that dramatically reduced CLABSI rates in Michigan hospitals. 

The On the CUSP: Stop BSI initiative, is scheduled to continue through 2012. Participating hospitals are given training developed by Peter Pronovost, MD, at Johns Hopkins University Quality and Safety Research Group. Participating hospitals also receive data reports and implementation guidance from the MHA Keystone Center and collaborate with other participating hospitals in their state.