Abstract:
Introduction: Infants admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care units (NICU) are frequently exposed to a high risk of contracting a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). The study aims to reduce the CLABSI rate in the NICU to reach the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) benchmark.
Methods: It is a quality improvement project based on the Plan Do Check Act. This study was conducted in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City. The study was done from February 2023 to July 2023 in NICU. Sixteen evidence-based recommendations were assessed over the project. An assigned team enhanced the regular assessment of central line-related items and supplies.
Results: 38 staff members were selected as ‘a vascular access team’ for this project. Full compliance with updated recommendations increased from 25% to 56.3%, and overall care bundle compliance improved from 66.07% to 79.12%. The availability of supplies related to central lines improved throughout the CLABSI project. Consequently, the CLABSI rate decreased by 82.3%, from 10.42 (6 CLABSI, 576 central line days; February 2023) to 1.84 (1 CLABSI, 544 central line days; July 2023) CLABSI per 1,000 central line days after six months of quality improvement project implementation.
Conclusions: Reducing the CLABSI rate is achievable by QIP based on updated recommendations to improve the quality of care and outcomes for newborns. However, multiple challenges should be addressed to maintain a low CLABSI rate.
Reference:Bouafia NA, Elabbasy A, Albukhari D, Santiago MJ, AlWeteshi R, Althomali M, Mohamed YK, Al Qarni A, Echevarria J, Al Hussien H, Alawad SS, Alodayani A, Kashlan F. From Concern to Control: Feedback from a quality improvement project to decrease Central-Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”. Tunis Med. 2025 Sep 9;103(9):1289-1296. doi: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i9.5962. PMID: 41848132.