Background Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) remains a major healthcare-associated infection causing increased morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and healthcare costs.¹ Prevention of contamination during catheter handling and maintenance is essential for reducing CLABSI rates. Aim To reduce CLABSI rates through optimization of central line maintenance bundle practices. Methods A Quality Improvement (QI) project was conducted in a corporate hospital ICU setting. Baseline CLABSI surveillance data from September 2023 to December 2024 were analyzed. Interventions implemented included use of alcohol-impregnated disinfectant caps instead of conventional gauze-based scrub-the-hub practice, introduction of needle-free connectors, use of prefilled sterile normal saline flushes instead of manually prepared syringes, staff education, and reinforcement of maintenance bundle compliance. Results Baseline data showed 17 CLABSI cases over 5594 central line days with an overall CLABSI rate of 3.04 per 1000 central line days. Following implementation of interventions in 2025, CLABSI cases reduced to 8 over 3208 central line days with an overall CLABSI rate of 2.49 per 1000 central line days. Conclusion Optimization of central line maintenance bundle practices contributed to reduction in CLABSI rates. Standardized hub disinfection, reduced catheter manipulation, and aseptic flushing practices are effective strategies for improving patient safety.
Patel et al. (Mon,) studied this question.