Question

The number of IV site infections has more than doubled on a nursing unit. The staff determine common causes include the site is cleaned using inconsistent methods, dressing frequently becomes wet when patient showers, IV tubing is not changed every 48 hours per protocol, and inadequate hand washing of RN prior to insertion. A bar graph demonstrates the frequency in descending order, with 80

1) Cause-and-effect diagram.
2) Run chart.
3) Pareto chart.
4) Flowchart.

Answer 1

Catheter-related bloodstream infections can stem from multiple causes, such as inconsistent site cleaning and inadequate sterile procedures. Prevention efforts include strict adherence to protocols and timely catheter management. Recurrent infections may require catheter removal and a switch to oral antibiotics for successful treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Infections stemming from intravenous catheters can occur due to a range of factors, including inconsistent cleaning of the site, contamination from wet dressings, failure to regularly change IV tubing, and inadequate hand washing by healthcare providers. Venous catheters, as necessary medical interventions, unfortunately, present a risk for bloodstream infections, which are estimated by the World Health Organization to cause significant morbidity and mortality yearly in the United States. Critical steps to prevent such infections include strict adherence to sterile procedures and timely management of catheters and their dressings, as highlighted by Dr. Pronovost's checklist experiment.

Cases of infection such as those caused by Staphylococcus epidermis, a common culprit in catheter-related bloodstream infections, require careful antibiotic management. When patients exhibit repeated infections despite initial treatment, this may indicate issues like biofilm formation on the catheter which is less susceptible to antibiotics or a systemic infection that is more effectively treated once the contaminated catheter is removed. The successful transition to oral antibiotics after the removal of the IV catheter suggests that the source of recurrent infection was likely the catheter itself.

Understanding the complexities of catheter-related bloodstream infections is vital to ensure patient safety and effective treatment within healthcare settings. It is important to address the contributing factors to the spread of nosocomial diseases and enhance infection control protocols.