Reducing Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients
Authors: Torrejon Nataly Valeria , Onger Tiffany , Sobecks Ronald M. , Corrao Megan , Scott Debra , Farrell Alexandria , Colvin Christina , Booth Steve , Began Silvana , Ferraro Jeanne , Corrigan Donna , Nelson Tori , Rinaldi Nicholas , McInnes Susan 
Published: November 2021

Background: The blood and marrow transplant (BMT) unit at Cleveland Clinic had an increased rate of central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in 2020 for allogeneic transplant admissions from an expected average of 1 per month to 4 in August of 2020. We aimed to reduce the number of CLABSIs in allogeneic BMT patients during their transplant admission to an average of 1 per month.

Patients and Methods: We formed a multidisciplinary team with nursing, advanced practice providers (APPs), infection prevention, fellows, residents, BMT staff, and Taussig quality improvement staff. We underwent training through the SolVE (Solutions for Value Enhancement) program, with biweekly meetings for training and coaching sessions to help design and support the quality improvement project.

Results: We performed an initial data review of CLABSIs from January 2020 until September 2020 with a total of 13 cases identified. 53% of cases were female, 76% of patients were neutropenic, 53% of patients had mucositis, 61% of patients had diarrhea and 7% of patients had graft versus host disease. Patients had the following underlying diagnoses: myelodysplastic syndrome (4), acute myeloid leukemia (3), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (4) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (1). Central line data revealed that all lines were placed at Cleveland Clinic. 76% of lines were removed after identification of infection, 46% of lines had signs of infection or malfunction. Microbiologic data culture revealed that 7 cases were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 3 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, 1 Streptococcus mitis and 1 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

To build our process map we performed a Gemba walk where we observed central line use and access on the BMT unit. We conducted a root cause analysis and identified the following factors as drivers of the rise in CLABSIs: severe immunocompromised state, pre-existing infections, long duration of line present, frequent access, excessive line manipulation, and poor hand hygiene.

The changes that were implemented on the unit included: retraining of all nurses on central line care, central line care being added as a topic to the annual competency review, site and tubing checks were to be performed at the time of bedside handoff at shift change, increasing Shine Audits to 40 per week from 10 on average and deep clean of nursing unit by EVS following outbreak of pseudomonas.

Following the above interventions, we decided to form a CLABSI review meeting to review each CLABSI in real time and to be able to have a longitudinal comprehensive data collection of factors contributing to each case. These meetings involve nursing, infection prevention, APPs, and physicians directly involved with the patient's care. Data is stored in Redcap and includes patient factors (admission date, conditioning regimen, type of transplant, disease data), line factors (placement date, location, infection date, line removal date), microbiologic data (organism, reason for culture collection), personnel factors, maintenance/environmental factors and space for other comments. Data is presented at regular quality meetings with the section chair to develop further quality improvement projects.

Initially the reduction of CLABSI rates did not reach our objective: we had 5 CLABSIs from January to February 2021. However, in the following months (March to June, 2021) we were able to reach our objective of 0-1 CLABSI's per month.

Conclusion

We continue to work as a team to reduce the number of infections in the BMT unit. Next steps include continuing CLABSI review meetings, discussions with ICU to better understand indications and process of blood culture collections, discussion with infectious disease for input on other strategies for CLABSI reduction and examining central line processes in other institutions.

Disclosures

Sobecks: CareDX: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.