In a progressive step towards infection prevention, researchers have developed a novel central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention bundle, termed as the ‘Standard Assessment for Effective Response (SAFER) Lines’. The recent study asserts that this unique preventive measure notably lowered inflammation, infections, and subsequent hospitalizations among nursing home residents who had peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).
Dr. Shruti K. Gohil, Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases and Associate Medical Director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention at the University of California, Irvine, acknowledges the rising number of patients requiring long-term intravenous medications and the corresponding mounting risks of CLABSIs. CLABSIs often lead to significant health complications and precipitate high healthcare costs. While hospitals maintain strong infection prevention practices, the prevention measures for patients leaving hospitals with these devices remain underdeveloped. Thus, the SAFER Lines bundle was conceived as a robust response to this problem.
The SAFER Lines bundle is a comprehensive CLABSI prevention program comprising of an assessment score that monitors central line insertion site inflammation. This score standardizes erythema by catheter width, used in conjunction with a mobile app that enables daily central line photo assessments by nurses. This collaborative approach leads to early detection, automated alerts to medical practitioners and allows for a swift remote response.
The extensive study involved 8,131 assessments of 817 PICCs in 719 residents, demonstrating a significant 50% decrease in lines with peeling dressings post the application of the bundle. The instances of localized infection or inflammation decreased from 29.9% pre-intervention to 12% post-intervention. Additionally, infection-related hospitalizations dropped from 42.9% to a promising 31.1% after the introduction of SAFER Lines, indicating a 41% lower risk.
With these striking results, the study advocates for embracing mobile app-based strategies, leading to improved CLABSI prevention practices, reduced central line infections and minimized hospitalizations. These preventative actions can transform patient care and significantly reduce the associated healthcare costs.