Reduction in Central Line Infections in 2009

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 | Lawyer Marketing

Central line-associated bloodstream infections are some of the deadliest hospital-acquired infections.  Controlling rates of these infections has posed an immense challenge to hospitals and healthcare facilities.  Awareness campaigns about preventing these infections and concerted efforts to increase sterility practices to prevent infections seem to have had some effect.  A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that there has been a decrease in central line bloodstream infections in 2009.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, central line -associated bloodstream infections have a reported mortality rate of between 12% and 35%.  The CDC found that in 2009, the estimated number of central line-associated infections in the ICU dropped to 18,000 from 43,000 in 2001.  In fact according to the study, the reduction in the incidence of these infections is much more pronounced than the reduction in other kinds of infections, including those involving Candida and enterococcus.  Out of the figures in 2009, an estimated 23,000 infections originated in inpatient wards.

These infections are transmitted through contaminated central lines, which are used to transmit nutrients and drugs to patients in intensive care at faster rates of speed.  The central lines can help deliver medicines and essential drugs to a patient much quicker than intravenous lines can, but when they are contaminated, they can also transmit infections to the patient at the same rate of speed.  Besides, any infection that is contracted through a central line spreads rapidly, which is a major factor in the high mortality rate associated with these infections.

Arizona medical malpractice lawyers believe that this reduction in central line infection rates is because of state and federal efforts focused on prevention of these infections, rather than cure.  The CDC report credits other governmental agencies, like the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for supporting efforts to reduce these infections.

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.