The Effect of a Guide Based Application Bundle on the Catheter-Related Infection

AIM: Central venous catheters are used extensively in intensive care units but can sometimes lead to catheter related blood stream infections. This study was carried out to determine the effect of guideline-based care bundle on possible catheter-related bloodstream infection in the application and care of central venous catheter in patients receiving follow-up and treatment in anesthesia intensive care unit. METHOD: The study is a retrospective and experimental one. The study population consisted of patients who were treated in an anesthesia intensive care unit of a university hospital between June 2015 and June 2016, to whom the central line was inserted in this unit by the team working in the unit and who required central line insertion for at least 48 hours. The patients in the study population also comprised the study sample. The guideline-based application and care bundle was administered under the supervision of the researcher in the intensive care unit and the patients were evaluated on a daily basis for bloodstream infection. RESULTS: When comparing data obtained from the study with data from the previous period, it was found that the guideline-based application and care bundle decreased the catheter-related bloodstream infection rate from 10.59/1000 to 2.88/1000 and this reduction was considered statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to this study’s data, the guideline-based care bundle is an effective and useful way to reduce infection.