New Toolkit Aims to Decrease Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL--(Marketwired - Nov 20, 2013) - A new toolkit, "Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections - Useful Tools, An International Perspective," developed by The Joint Commission, Joint Commission Resources (JCR) and Joint Commission International (JCI), is now available to help healthcare organizations implement practices to reduce these preventable infections that threaten lives and increase healthcare costs.

The toolkit, along with a 2012 monograph "Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections - A Global Challenge, A Global Perspective," provides the most current information and guidance on practices and technology, as well as the most appropriate tools, resources and education, to assist healthcare organizations with their efforts to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Recent studies show that more than 23,000 patients in the U.S. alone develop CLABSIs annually, and that CLABSIs are one of the most deadly types of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the annual cost of CLABSI is more than $1 billion, and the estimated cost per patient is more than $16,000. The risk associated with CLABSI is even greater in developing countries, where the rates of HAIs related to devices are, in most cases, three to five times greater.

The toolkit and monograph are designed for healthcare personnel who insert and care for central venous catheters and who are responsible for the surveillance, prevention and control of infections in all healthcare settings. Separated into chapters which correspond directly to those included in the monograph, the topics and tools address:

• Types of central venous catheters and risk factors for and pathogenesis of CLABSIs
• Background on CLABSIs, including clinical practice guidelines, position papers, initiatives on CLABSI prevention and barriers to best practices
• CLABSI prevention strategies, techniques and technologies
• CLABSI patient safety initiatives and factors contributing to improvement
• CLABSI surveillance, benchmarking and public reporting
• Economic aspects of CLABSIs and their prevention

"Although there are a series of evidence-based interventions that can prevent most CLABSIs, consistently implementing these practices remains a significant challenge," says Daniel J. Castillo, M.D., M.B.A., medical director, Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission. "The monograph and accompanying tools are designed to help healthcare providers across the globe to take action to save lives and improve health care quality."

The toolkit was developed by The Joint Commission, JCR and JCI. In addition, several other domestic and international infection prevention leaders from countries including Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Switzerland, Thailand and Saudi Arabia provided expertise for the toolkit. The project was supported by a research grant from Baxter Healthcare Corporation and focuses on the identification and broad dissemination of preferred practices and technological solutions to prevent CLABSI.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide nursing and rehabilitation center care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission currently certifies more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, focused on the care of patients with chronic illnesses such as stroke, joint replacement, stroke rehabilitation, heart failure and many others. The Joint Commission also provides health care staffing services certification for more than 750 staffing offices. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Joint Commission Resources (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, is the official publisher and educator of The Joint Commission. JCR is an expert resource for health care organizations, providing consulting services, educational services and publications to assist in improving quality and safety and to help in meeting the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission. JCR provides consulting services independently from The Joint Commission and in a fully confidential manner. Please visit our Web site at www.jcrinc.com.

Joint Commission International (JCI) was established in 1997 as a division of Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a wholly controlled, not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation, consultation, publications and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission's mission worldwide by helping to improve the quality of patient care. JCI assists international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others in more than 90 countries.

To view this release in a media-rich format, go to: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2013/joint_commission/clabsi_toolkit/