The effect of the multimodal intervention including an automatic notification of catheter days on reducing central line-related bloodstream infection: a retrospective, observational, quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: A central venous catheter (CVC) is an important medical device, but it could be preceding infection and the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). CLABSI is a common healthcare-associated infection but results in high cost and mortality; therefore, various efforts to reduce CLABSI have been attempted. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational, quasi-experimental study in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a single tertiary care hospital. We reviewed and analysed the data of CLABSI rates and days from the insertion to the removal of the temporary CVC between January 2018 and June 2021 with transient periods over 9 months. Sequentially, all patients with the CVC in the ICU underwent the following interventions: maximal barrier precaution, automatic notification of catheter days and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate bathing. A segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was conducted to compare the CLABSI rates before and after the introduction of multimodal interventions. During study periods, the impact of interventions on CLABSI was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 76,504 patient-days, 28,312 catheter days and 66 CLABSI cases were reviewed in ICU-hospitalised patients. As additional interventions, the CLABSI rate declined from 3.1 per 1000 CVC days to 1.2 per 1000 CVC days in post-interventions. In the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods, 4146 patents had one more short-term CVC. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, multimodal intervention was one of determinants reducing CLABSI rates (odds ratio (OR), 0.52 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.28-0.94]). Indwelling time of CVC over 10 days was the risk factor for CLABSI rates (OR, 6.27 [95% CI, 3.36-12.48]). Of the three interventions, the automatic notification of catheter days was associated with decreased median monthly total CVC days and duration of CVC days per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary and evidence-based interventions could lead to a decrease in the CLABSI rates. Moreover, the automatic notification of catheter days of the electronic medical healthcare system has shortened the time of indwelling CVC.

Nosocomial outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome among healthcare workers in a single hospital in Daegu, Korea.

BACKGROUND: In August 2020, 17 healthcare workers (HCWs) were simultaneously diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) at a university hospital in Daegu, Republic of Korea. METHODS: An epidemiologic investigation using questionnaires was conducted for all suspected HCWs who had viral infection symptoms or who had the possibility of exposure to the index patient. RESULTS: A total of 17 HCWs infected with the SFTS virus (SFTSV) (28.8%) were identified among the 59 HCWs who had contact with the patient. Operating a bag valve mask during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (OR 7.50, 95% CI 1.75-41.07), cardiac massage during CPR (OR 12.00, 95% CI 1.76-241.94), exposure to the patient's body fluids (OR 7.43, 95% CI 1.91-34.69), and shorter individual hospital work experience periods (OR 6.79, 95% CI 1.70-32.10) were significantly associated with SFTS infection in the univariate analysis. However, exposure to body fluids was found to be the only statistically significant risk factor when multivariate analysis was conducted (OR 6.27. 95% CI 1.23-42.81, p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: This finding illustrates the importance of wearing appropriate personal protective equipment in treatment areas and when conducting any medical procedures, including CPR for patients with SFTS, and any procedure that involves potential exposure to body fluids.