Closed arterial lab sampling devices: a study of compliance and best practice
Ann Benedict1, Adam Mayer2, Heather Craven3
1Nursing Professional Development Generalist Pediatric Critical Care, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Insights
Implementing closed arterial lab sampling devices in pediatric cardiac ICUs reduces contamination risks. This best practice improves patient safety by minimizing bloodstream infections associated with traditional blood sampling methods.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Infection Control
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Conventional three-way stopcock blood sampling in pediatric patients is linked to catheter contamination and bloodstream infections.
- Improving patient care necessitates the evaluation and implementation of best practices in nursing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To mitigate contamination risks in pediatric cardiac intensive care units (PCICU) by adopting closed arterial lab sampling devices.
- To reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections in pediatric cardiac patients.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of comparative literature on conventional versus closed arterial sampling methods.
- Implementation of closed arterial lab sampling devices in a PCICU setting.
- Monitoring and evaluation of sustained compliance over a 2-year period.
Main Results:
- Successful implementation of closed arterial lab sampling devices.
- Sustained compliance with the new best practice demonstrated.
- Reduction in peripheral arterial catheter intraluminal contamination and associated infections.
Conclusions:
- Closed arterial lab sampling devices represent an effective best practice for obtaining blood samples in pediatric cardiac intensive care.
- Translating evidence-based practices into clinical settings can significantly enhance patient safety and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
- Continuous evaluation and sustained compliance are crucial for the long-term success of implementing new medical technologies.
Abstract:
As the quality of patient care continues to improve, nursing professionals are continuously tasked with researching, implementing, and evaluating best practices. The practice of obtaining blood samples from paediatric patients, using a conventional three-way stopcock method, has been associated with peripheral arterial catheter intraluminal contamination and catheter-related bloodstream infections. A paediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU), in a large medical centre in the USA, set an objective to mitigate the risk of possible contamination by implementing the use of closed arterial lab sampling devices. The project extensively reviewed comparative literature of studies between conventional three-way stopcock methods and closed arterial lab sampling devices. Furthermore, it successfully implemented the recommended best practice with sustained compliance. This article discusses appraising current literature, translating into practice, and evaluating compliance throughout the PCICU over a 2-year period.
More Related Videos
09:38Femoral Arterial and Venous Catheterization for Blood Sampling, Drug Administration and Conscious Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements
Published on: January 24, 2012
08:56Author Spotlight: Automated Infusion and Blood Sampling for Precise Hormonal Analysis in Conscious Mice
Published on: August 25, 2023
