Effect of Central Venous Catheter Care Bundle Implementation on Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Context: Central venous access device (CVAD) bundles for insertion and maintenance demonstrate a reduction in the frequency of complications and bloodstream infection when implemented with compliance monitoring, with the reported success of CVAD bundles. Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of central venous catheter care bundle implementation on outcomes of critically ill patients. Methods: Quasi-experimental research (pre/post-test design) was used to achieve the aim of this study. The study was conducted at general and surgical intensive care units affiliated to Menoufia University and teaching hospital. Two study samples were recruited in this study. All nurses working at the ICUs, as mentioned above, were recruited in this study. They were 6o critical care nurses. A convenient sample of all available critically ill patients at the time of the study was subjected to treatment via a central venous catheter. Four study tools were used to collect the data of this study. These are a structured interview questionnaire, CVC nurses’ knowledge assessment questionnaire, nurses’ compliance assessment checklists, and patient complications assessment records.

Results: The study result showed a highly statistically significant difference between pre and post-test knowledge scores of studied nurses regarding assisting line insertion, removal, maintenance, care, and infection control practices. Besides, a highly statistically significant difference between pre and post-test scores of nurses’ compliance to central venous catheter care practices of assisting in CVC insertion, blood sample withdrawal, medication and fluid administration, CVP measurements, CVC removal, and the management of central venous line complications. The study also revealed a highly statistically significant difference between the study and control group patients regarding the central venous catheter complications. However, signs of infection were the most frequent complications in both groups.

Conclusion. The study concluded that a statistically significant difference between pre and post nurses’ knowledge and compliance with the CVC care bundle. The patients’ outcomes were also improved significantly after the implementation of the CVC care bundle compared to the controls. The study recommended the adoption of the current care bundle that should be disseminated and updated following the international organizations’ recommendation for implementing evidence-based practices for successful central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention.