Hospital-acquired catheter-related bloodstream infection prevention

Intravascular catheters are widely used in ICU, both for monitoring and therapeutic purposes (fluid, drugs, parenteral nutrition, blood and blood components administration, hemodialysis, and renal replacement therapy). Among indwelling catheter complications, infections represent probably the most challenging one and account for increased length of hospitals and ICU stay, costs, and related mortality. Several guidelines have been edited and disseminated to allow a more homogeneous and evidence-based approach to intravascular catheter management. Nurses apply these approaches in daily interventions, such as catheter dressing, hub disinfection, and line replacement. Whenever an intravascular catheter is in place, a team approach should always be adopted, including the daily evaluation for catheter need. Adherence to guidelines should be monitored, and educational interventions are provided to staff. Therefore, each team should identify and promote the application of bundled interventions for catheter management.