Objectives: The evaluation of effectiveness of implemented actions to limit intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection rates.
Introduction: We have analyzed actions taken in nineteen wards in the St. Lukas District Hospital in Tarnów. During seven-year study period, from 2005 to 2011, 207 673 hospitalized patients were supervised. A study was done among all patients with peripheral intravenous catheters and central venous catheters.
Material and methods: Standard statistic tools and definitions of nosocominal infections used by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used. Intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection rates has been calculated by a formula: (number of catheter-related bloodstream infections/number of person-days with catheters) x1000.
Results: During the period study, decrease in frequency of occurrence was obtained: venous catheter-related bloodstream infections decreased from 2.8 to 0.4 per 1000 person-days, central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections decreased from 8.9 to 3.0 per 1000 person-days, peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections decreased from 0.6 to 0.3 per 1000 person-days. The most common causative agent of venous catheter-related bloodstream infections was in 44% of cases Staphylococcus CNS and in 19% of cases Staphylococcus aureus.
Conclusions: It is possible to significantly decrease intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection rates by taking preventive actions combined with intensive education of medical personnel.