Assessing standards of vascular access device care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality
• Infection Prevention
• Clinical Practice Audit

Background:

• Vascular access devices (VADs) are critical for patient treatment but pose infection risks.
• Bloodstream infections are a primary complication associated with invasive VADs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current standards of VAD care.
• To assess compliance with national and trust guidelines for VAD care in a hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A practice audit was conducted in a 500-bed district general hospital.
• 120 VADs across 13 wards were audited over 6 non-consecutive weekdays.

Main Results:

• A 48% non-compliance rate with VAD care guidelines was observed.
• Overall compliance was 52%, with poor care standards noted across all elements.

Conclusions:

• Post-insertion VAD care is vital for preventing complications.
• Regular audits, education, and feedback are recommended to enhance VAD care practices.