Effectiveness of a catheter-associated bloodstream infection bundle in a Thai tertiary care center: a 3-year study

Area of Science:

• Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSI) pose a significant threat in healthcare settings, particularly in middle-income countries.
• Assessing the long-term impact of bundled infection control interventions is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the sustained effectiveness of a bundled infection control strategy on CA-BSI rates.
• To assess the impact of intensified hand hygiene promotion on CA-BSI incidence.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted in a 500-bed tertiary care center in Thailand.
• Data were collected over three periods: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a 1-year follow-up with enhanced hand hygiene.
• Infection rates, hand hygiene adherence, and catheter-days were monitored.

Main Results:

• CA-BSI rates decreased by 54.1% after the intervention and by 78% during the follow-up period compared to baseline.
• Hand hygiene adherence significantly improved from 8% to 54% over the study duration.
• No CA-BSIs were observed in 50% of the months during the final follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Bundled infection control practices are feasible and highly effective in reducing CA-BSI incidence.
• Sustained implementation and intensified hand hygiene are key to maintaining low CA-BSI rates in resource-limited settings.
• This strategy offers a sustainable approach to improving patient safety.