Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) present a significant challenge to health care delivery and result in high costs of care and high rates of mortality among the population annually. However, the infections are preventable, and the education of healthcare workers operating within the ICU setting is essential for the effective implementation of CLABSI-specific protocols. In the post, the author does a great job explaining the importance of ongoing training and education of personnel as an evidence-based measure for preventing CLABSI occurrence within ICUs and related exacerbations.
Recent research suggests that continuous education and training have a positive impact on preparing staff for the possibility of CLABSI occurrence and equipping them with knowledge and skills necessary for prevention and management. For instance, Mohapatra et al. (2020) found that continuous education and training initiatives result in a 48% reduction in the CLABSI rate compared to the baseline, with the overall mortality dropping from 1.5% to 0.05%.
Besides, the program significantly improved compliance with hygiene practices and catheter hub care. The research by Acharya et al. (2019) showed similar results, with the effectiveness of the educational program being reflected in the post-test scores, the falling number of missed opportunities for prevention, and the reduction of the CLABSI case numbers in the ICU. However, the posttest scores and compliance with hygiene requirements decreased after six months of the intervention, which is indicative of the need for reminders and repeated feedback. Therefore, the key to an effective EBP intervention that considers education and personnel training is its continuity to facilitate the adherence to key preventive and management procedures among staff operating in the ICU setting.
References
Acharya, R., Bedanta Mishra, S., Ipsita, S., & Azim, A. (2019). Impact of nursing education on CLABSI rates: An experience from a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine: Peer-Reviewed, Official Publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, 23(7), 316-319. Web.
Mohapatra, S., Kapil, A., Suri, A., Pandia, M. P., Bhatia, R., Borkar, S., Dube, S. K., Jagdevan, A., George, S., Varghese, B., & Dabral, J. (2020). Impact of continuous education and training in reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infection in neurointensive care unit. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine: Peer-Reviewed, Official Publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, 24(6), 414-417. Web.