Ohio hospitals cut bloodstream infections

By working together, 53 Ohio hospitals cut central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units nearly in half, officials say. Deborah Bohr, senior director of Health Research & Educational Trust, Naomi O'Grady of Johns Hopkins University and colleagues said the hospitals worked with 80 patient care units in Ohio on the Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program: Stop Bloodstream Infections as part of a voluntary national effort to eliminate central line-associated bloodstream infections. A central line is a catheter that ends in large vessels going into the heart so clinicians can more closely monitor patients and administer medication, the researchers explained. During the 22-month study period, Ohio, combined with two other states, saved more than $4,558,000, prevented 86 bloodstream infections, saved 17 lives and saved 688 excess hospital days by preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections, the researchers said. The reduction in infections represented a 48 percent drop. "On behalf of Health Research & Educational Trust, I congratulate the Ohio teams, which have made significant progress toward eliminating central line-associated bloodstream infections," Bohr said in a statement.