Long-Term Reduction of Vascular Access–Associated Bloodstream Infection
Authors: Philippe Eggimann, Stéphane Hugonnet, Hugo Sax, Stephan Harbarth, Jean-Claude Chevrolet, Didier Pittet
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters17 May 2005Long-Term Reduction of Vascular Access–Associated Bloodstream InfectionPhilippe Eggimann, MD, Stéphane Hugonnet, MD, MSc, Hugo Sax, MD, Stephan Harbarth, MD, MS, Jean-Claude Chevrolet, MD, and Didier Pittet, MD, MSPhilippe Eggimann, MDFrom University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland., Stéphane Hugonnet, MD, MScFrom University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland., Hugo Sax, MDFrom University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland., Stephan Harbarth, MD, MSFrom University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland., Jean-Claude Chevrolet, MDFrom University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland., and Didier Pittet, MD, MSFrom University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-10-200505170-00025 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Background: Vascular access–associated infections remain a major complication of modern medicine (1). They increase patient morbidity, affect quality of patient care, and generate substantial hospital costs. Recently revised guidelines (2) have recommended education-based and staff training strategies as first-line prevention measures, but the long-term effect of these strategies has not yet been determined.Objective: To measure the long-term impact of a multimodal strategy to reduce the incidence of vascular access–associated infections in critical care.Methods and Findings: Approximately 1500 patients are admitted annually to the 18-bed medical intensive care unit (ICU) of the University of Geneva Hospitals. ...References1. Monitoring hospital-acquired infections to promote patient safety—United States, 1990-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2000;49:149-53. [PMID: 10737441] MedlineGoogle Scholar2. O'Grady NP, Alexander M, Dellinger EP, Gerberding JL, Heard SO, Maki DG, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2002;51:1-29. [PMID: 12233868] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Eggimann P, Harbarth S, Constantin MN, Touveneau S, Chevrolet JC, Pittet D. Impact of a prevention strategy targeted at vascular-access care on incidence of infections acquired in intensive care. Lancet. 2000;355:1864-8. [PMID: 10866442] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Garner JS, Jarvis WR, Emori TG, Horan TC, Hughes JM. CDC definitions for nosocomial infections, 1988. Am J Infect Control. 1988;16:128-40. [PMID: 2841893] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Richards MJ, Edwards JR, Culver DH, Gaynes RP. Nosocomial infections in medical intensive care units in the United States. National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System. Crit Care Med. 1999;27:887-92. [PMID: 10362409] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Philippe Eggimann, MD; Stéphane Hugonnet, MD, MSc; Hugo Sax, MD; Stephan Harbarth, MD, MS; Jean-Claude Chevrolet, MD; Didier Pittet, MD, MSAffiliations: From University of Geneva Hospitals, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland.Acknowledgments: The authors thank the medical intensive care unit team and the members of the Infection Control Program, in particular M.N. Constantin-Chraïti and S. Touveneau. They also thank Rosemary Sudan for providing editorial assistance.Grant Support: In part by a research grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (no. 32-68164.02).Disclosures: None disclosed. 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