Using Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing to Decrease Central-Line Associated Blood Stream Infections
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Authors
Smith, Abigail
Polk, Crisha
Winslow, Allison
Date of Issue
2023-04-28
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Abstract
Central venous catheters are associated with central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). According to Reynolds et al. (2021), these preventable cases of CLABSI result in 28,000 deaths annually and cost the U.S. healthcare system an additional $2.3 billion. For the purpose of this review, CLABSI is defined as an infection of the bloodstream resulting from the introduction of microbial flora through central venous catheters (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Chlorhexidine gluconate decreases microbial flora and prevents infection risk as an antiseptic agent (Tacconelli et al., 2017). The purpose of this Evidence-Based practice review is to examine the efficacy of daily chlorhexidine gluconate-based hygiene practices on rates of CLABSI in critical care patients. The outcome of this review may provide evidence to support potential changes to healthcare practices regarding antiseptic hygiene in critical care settings. Nurses or other healthcare providers can use this information to implement infection control and prevention into their daily practice to decrease CLABSI rates among their patients. Decreasing the rates of CLABSI infections is important because central lines provide direct access to the patient’s bloodstream, allowing infectious processes to occur faster than other modes of disease transmission