CENTRAL!LINE!ASSOCIATED!BLOOD!STREAMINFECTION!! … Report ANZICS CLABSI Preventio… · 6...

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1 CENTRAL LINE ASSOCIATED BLOOD STREAM INFECTION PREVENTION PROJECT FINAL REPORT JULY 2012

Transcript of CENTRAL!LINE!ASSOCIATED!BLOOD!STREAMINFECTION!! … Report ANZICS CLABSI Preventio… · 6...

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CENTRAL  LINE  ASSOCIATED  BLOOD  STREAM  INFECTION    PREVENTION  PROJECT  

   

FINAL  REPORT  JULY  2012      

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EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY  .......................................................................................................  3  

BACKGROUND  ...................................................................................................................  5  

ANZICS  CLABSI  PREVENTION  PROJECT  ...............................................................................  6  Project  Aims  ..............................................................................................................................  6  Project  Management  .................................................................................................................  6  

PREPARATION  -­‐  COMMUNICATION  AND  CONSULTATION  ..................................................  7  ACSQHC  Committees  .................................................................................................................  7  Jurisdictional  Safety  &  Quality  Departments,  Surveillance  Bodies  ..............................................  8  ICU  Directors  and  Nurse  Unit  Managers  .....................................................................................  9  Hospital  Infection  Control  Departments  ....................................................................................  10  Reference/Expert  Groups  ..........................................................................................................  10  Conference  Presentations  .........................................................................................................  11  Newsletters  ..............................................................................................................................  11  Overall  Impressions  ..................................................................................................................  11  

PREPARATION  -­‐  “INFRASTRUCTURE”  ...............................................................................  12  Surveillance  ..............................................................................................................................  12  National  Database  and  Reporting  .............................................................................................  12  ANZICS  Central  Line  Insertion  and  Maintenance  Guideline  ........................................................  12  Checklist  &  compliance  calculator  .............................................................................................  13  Other  material  ..........................................................................................................................  13  Website  ....................................................................................................................................  14  

LAUNCHES  .......................................................................................................................  14  Tasmania:  November  2011  .......................................................................................................  14  Perth:  December  2011  ..............................................................................................................  15  Alice  Springs:  January  2012  .......................................................................................................  15  Victoria:  February  2012  .............................................................................................................  15  Adelaide:  February  2012  ...........................................................................................................  15  New  South  Wales:  April  2012  ....................................................................................................  15  Queensland:  May  2012  .............................................................................................................  16  Launch  evaluation  .....................................................................................................................  16  Overall  impressions  ..................................................................................................................  17  

THE  FUTURE  ....................................................................................................................  17  

CONCLUSIONS  .................................................................................................................  18  

 

 

   

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EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY    The  true  incidence  of  Central  Line  Associated  Bloodstream  Infections  in  Australian  intensive  care  units  is  unknown;  however  the  cost  in  morbidity  and  healthcare  dollars  was  high.  Surveillance  existed,  but  was  inconsistent  and  the  results  variably  reported  to  clinicians.    Prevention  strategies  targeting  central  line  insertion  techniques  had  previously  had  the  most  success,  both  in  Australia  and  overseas  and  formed  the  basis  for  this  project.  However  this  was  later  expanded  to  include  guidelines  on  central  line  maintenance.    In  2010  The  Australian  and  New  Zealand  Intensive  Care  Society  (ANZICS)  was  awarded  funding  to  undertake  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project.  The  project  included  public  and  private,  adult  and  paediatric  ICUs  across  Australia,  but  excluded  NSW  and  ACT  public  ICUs  as  they  were  involved  in  a  similar  project  in  2007-­‐08.      The  aims  of  the  project  were  to    

• facilitate  a  process  for  accurate  and  consistent  measurement  and  reporting  of  CLABSI  in  ICUs  throughout  Australia,    

• implement  an  agreed,  evidence-­‐based  approach  to  reduce  CLABSI  in  all  Australian  ICUs  to  <1/1000  line  days  

• achieve  the  above  by  building  on  existing  processes  where  possible    

As  an  adjunct  to  the  CLABSI  Prevention  Project,  the  ANZICS  Centre  for  Outcome  and  Resource  Evaluation  was  granted  funding  to  establish  a  national  CLABSI  database  and  reporting  system  (see  separate  report).    A  senior  intensive  care  nurse  was  appointed  as  fulltime  project  manager,  and  the  chair  of  the  steering  committee  provided  medical  input  on  an  ad-­‐hoc  basis.    There  was  widespread  communication  and  consultation  with  stakeholders  at  the  beginning  of  the  project.  This  included  surveys  of  intensive  care  directors  and  nurse  unit  managers,  infection  control  practitioners,  and  jurisdictional  surveillance  bodies;  these  were  followed  by  face-­‐to-­‐face  meetings.  These  meetings  both  informed  project  design,  and  introduced  the  idea  of  change.  There  were  also  close  links  with  various  Commission  committees;  and  an  infectious  diseases  expert  group  was  convened  to  advise  on  areas  were  there  was  insufficient  or  out-­‐dated  evidence.    There  was  some  reticence/caution  both  from  ICU  staff  and  jurisdictions,  especially  where  a  significant  amount  of  change  would  be  required.  However  the  overall  response  was  remarkably  positive,  and  engendered  confidence  that  the  project  would  be  successful  if  a  respectful,  patient  and  inclusive  approach  was  taken.    Within  the  intensivist  group  there  was  also  a  significant  degree  of  scepticism  about  adopting  tools  designed  for  an  American  audience,  and  the  “bundle”  concept  was  particularly  unpopular.  These  responses  emphasised  the  importance  of  tailoring  the  project  to  an  Australian  setting,  and  using  language  with  which  people  were  familiar  and  comfortable;  the  term  “bundle”  was  therefore  omitted,  and  words  such  as  policy,  protocol,  and  guideline  were  adopted.      The  Commission’s  Healthcare  Associated  Infection  Technical  Working  Group  included  CLABSI  surveillance  in  its  workplan,  resulting  in  a  national  CLABSI  definition  and  Implementation  Guide  for  Surveillance  of  Central  Line  Associated  Bloodstream  Infection  based  on  the  US  Center  for  Disease  Control  and  Prevention  (CDC),  National  Healthcare  Safety  Network  (NHSN)  surveillance  process.  All  

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jurisdictions  were  gradually  changing  to  the  national  definition,  allowing  them  to  submit  data  to  the  national  CLABSI  database  and  reporting  system.    An  assortment  of  tools  were  developed  to  assist  with  project  implementation  at  unit  level:  the  ANZICS  Central  Line  Insertion  and  Maintenance  Guideline,  an  Insertion  Checklist,  a  checklist  compliance  calculator,  powerpoint  presentations  and  surveillance  information.  All  these  were  made  available  on  a  specific  website  that  also  provided  a  discussion  forum  for  clinicians  to  share  ideas.  

The  prevention  part  of  the  project  was  launched  in  late  2011/early  2012.  The  launches  followed  much  the  same  pattern,  but  were  adapted  according  to  the  size  and  jurisdiction  of  the  audience.  The  response  to  the  launches  was  very  positive,  both  on  the  day  and  in  the  subsequent  evaluation,  with  the  presentations  from  local  ICUs  about  their  strategies  to  prevent  CLABSI  being  particularly  well-­‐received.    The  changes  implemented  during  the  project  were  intended  to  be  sustainable,  with  the  Executive  Officer  of  the  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  providing  ongoing  support,  and  project  materials  available  on  the  website.    Due  to  delays  in  implementation  of  the  Prevention  Project  and  establishment  of  the  national  database,  it  is  not  yet  possible  to  say  whether  the  aim  of  reducing  CLABSI  in  all  Australian  ICUs  to  <1/1000  line  days  was  achieved,  however  the  other  aims  were  achieved.    The  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project  was  a  successful  national  quality  improvement  project  lead  by  a  professional  organisation  with  backing  from  the  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  Healthcare.  This  successful  cost-­‐effective  model  is  recommended  for  future  quality  improvement  interventions  that  target  clinician  behaviour.      

   

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BACKGROUND    Patients  in  intensive  care  units  (ICU)  are  at  high  risk  of  developing  healthcare  associated  infections  (HAI),  with  20-­‐30%  of  all  HAIs  occurring  in  ICU;  one  of  the  most  important  and  common  ICU  HAIs  is  central  line  associated  blood  stream  infection  (CLABSI).  A  recent  Australian  paper  suggested  an  episode  of  CLABSI  in  intensive  care  results  in  an  extra  10  days  in  hospital  and  costs  at  least  an  extra  $14,000  to  treat1.  Attributable  mortality  varies  across  the  literature  from  4-­‐20%2.      In  spite  of  the  significant  impact  of  CLABSI  on  morbidity  and  mortality,  length  of  stay  and  cost,  its  true  prevalence  throughout  Australia  is  unknown.  Surveillance  has  developed  on  an  ad-­‐hoc  basis,  with  collection  methods,  definitions,  analysis  and  feedback  mechanisms  differing  widely  between,  and  within  jurisdictions.  As  a  result,  there  has  been  little  opportunity  for  broader  benchmarking  or  sharing  of  successful  CLABSI  infection  control  strategies.    Preventative  measures  against  CLABSI  have  been  well  documented  in  the  literature  over  the  last  fifteen  years,  but  uptake  has  been  inconsistent.  However,  recently  there  has  been  increasing  success  with  strategies  involving  the  “bundle”  concept  first  touted  by  the  American  Institute  for  Healthcare  Improvement  (IHI).  The  bundles  consist  of  several  evidence-­‐based  steps  that  must  be  completed  for  each  procedure.    To  further  enhance  “bundle”  uptake,  the  IHI  recommends  the  “Collaborative”  model,  whereby  a  large  number  of  ICUs  are  invited  to  participate  in  a  program  of  quality  improvement,  and  encouraged  to  engage  in  shared  problem-­‐solving  and  benchmarking.  The  best-­‐known  example  of  this  approach  for  CLABSI  reduction  is  the  work  done  by  Pronovost  et  al3  in  which  a  collaborative  cohort  study  of  108  ICUs  decreased  their  median  rate  of  CLABSI  from  2.7/1000  catheter  days  to  0  (mean  from  7.7/1000  catheter  days  to  1.4/1000  catheter  days)  in  an  18  month  period.  Importantly,  the  decreased  rate  of  infection  was  sustained  over  a  further  18-­‐months4.    Subsequent  CLABSI  reduction  strategies  based  on  this  approach,  termed  were  successfully  adopted  with  local  adaptations  in  England  (“Matching  Michigan”),  Spain  and  Peru  among  others.  In  Australia  the  most  recent  example  was  the  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  Project  in  2007-­‐2008.        The  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  Project  enlisted  38  ICUs  throughout  the  state,  and  over  15  months  demonstrated  a  decrease  in  CLABSI  from  a  mean  of  3/1000  line  days  to  1.2/1000  line  days.  The  project  was  underpinned  by  a  simple  evidence-­‐based  guideline  for  central  line  insertion,  and  a  central  data  repository  that  interpreted  data  for  contributors  and  provided  timely  feedback.            

1  Halton  KA,  Cook  D,  Paterson  DL,  Safdar  N,  Graves  N  (2010)  Cost-­‐Effectiveness  of  a  Central  Venous  Catheter  Care  Bundle.  PLoS  ONE  5(9):  e12815.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012815  2  Harrington  G,  Richards  M,  Solano  T,  Spelman  D,  “Adult  intensive  care  unit  acquired  infection”,  in  Cruickshank  M  &  Ferguson  J  eds,  Reducing  Harm  to  Patients  from  Health  Care  Associated  Infections:  The  Role  of  Surveillance,  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  health  Care,  2008      3  Pronovost  P,  Needham  D,  Berenholtz  S,  Sinopoli  D,  Chu  H,  Cosgrove  S,  Sexton  B,  Hyzy  R,  Welsh  R,  Roth  G,  Bander  J,  Kepros  J,  Goeschel  C.  An  Intervention  to  Decrease  Catheter-­‐Related  Bloodstream  Infections  in  the ICU. New  England Journal  of  Medicine  2006,  Vol  355,  No  26  4  Pronovost  P,  Goeschel  C,  Colantuoni  E,  Watson  S,  Lubomski  LH,  Berenholtz  SM,  Thompson  DA,  Sinopoli  D,  Cosgrove  S,  Sexton  JB,  Marsteller  JA,  Hyzy  RC,  Welsh  R,  Posa  P,  Schumacher  K,  Needham  D.  Sustaining  reductions  in  catheter  related  bloodstream  infections  in  Michigan  intensive  care  units:  observational  study.BMJ  2010;  340:c309    5  Harrington  G,  Richards  M,  Solano  T,  Spelman  D,  “Adult  intensive  care  unit  acquired  infection”,  in  Cruickshank  M  &  Ferguson  J  eds,  Reducing  Harm  to  Patients  from  Health  Care  Associated  Infections:  The  Role  of  Surveillance,  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  health  Care,  2008         6 McLaws  ML,  Burrell  AR.  Zero  risk  for  central  line-­‐associated  bloodstream  infection:  are  we  there  yet?  Crit  Care  Med.  2012    

2  Harrington  G,  Richards  M,  Solano  T,  Spelman  D,  “Adult  intensive  care  unit  acquired  infection”,  in  Cruickshank  M  &  Ferguson  J  eds,  Reducing  Harm  to  Patients  from  Health  Care  Associated  Infections:  The  Role  of  Surveillance,  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  health  Care,  2008      3  Pronovost  P,  Needham  D,  Berenholtz  S,  Sinopoli  D,  Chu  H,  Cosgrove  S,  Sexton  B,  Hyzy  R,  Welsh  R,  Roth  G,  Bander  J,  Kepros  J,  Goeschel  C.  An  Intervention  to  Decrease  Catheter-­‐Related  Bloodstream  Infections  in  the ICU. New  England Journal  of  Medicine  2006,  Vol  355,  No  26  4  Pronovost  P,  Goeschel  C,  Colantuoni  E,  Watson  S,  Lubomski  LH,  Berenholtz  SM,  Thompson  DA,  Sinopoli  D,  Cosgrove  S,  Sexton  JB,  Marsteller  JA,  Hyzy  RC,  Welsh  R,  Posa  P,  Schumacher  K,  Needham  D.  Sustaining  reductions  in  catheter  related  bloodstream  infections  in  Michigan  intensive  care  units:  observational  study.BMJ  2010;  340:c309    

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ANZICS  CLABSI  PREVENTION  PROJECT    In  2008  the  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  Health  Care  (ACSQHC)5  recommended    

• a  mandatory  continuous  national  surveillance  system  to  collect  and  report  on  an  agreed  minimum  dataset  for  central  line  associated  blood  stream  infections  in  all  ICUs    

• Australian  expert  consensus  is  required  to  agree  on  national  definitions  for  central  line  associated  blood  stream  infections....  

 Following  publication  of  this  document,  the  ACSQHC  HAI  Advisory  Committee  endorsed  the  establishment  of  a  national  CLABSI  prevention  project  and  development  of  a  national  CLABSI  surveillance  system.      In  early  2010  The  Australian  and  New  Zealand  Intensive  Care  Society  (ANZICS)  was  awarded  funding  for  one  year  to  undertake  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project;  this  was  subsequently  extended  for  a  further  year  until  the  end  of  June  2012.  The  project  included  public  and  private,  adult  and  paediatric  ICUs  across  Australia,  but  excluded  NSW  and  ACT  public  ICUs  as  they  had  recently  been  involved  in  the  NSW  project.    

Project  Aims   The  aims  of  the  project  were  to    

• facilitate  a  process  for  accurate  and  consistent  measurement  and  reporting  of  CLABSI  in  ICUs  throughout  Australia,    

• implement  an  agreed,  evidence-­‐based  approach  to  reduce  CLABSI  in  all  Australian  ICUs  to  <1/1000  line  days  

• achieve  the  above  by  building  on  existing  processes  where  possible    

As  an  adjunct  to  the  CLABSI  Prevention  Project,  in  early  2011  the  ANZICS  Centre  for  Outcome  and  Resource  Evaluation  (CORE)  was  granted  funding  to  establish  a  national  CLABSI  database  and  reporting  system  (see  separate  report).  

Project  Management   The  project  was  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  which  also  acted  as  the  project  steering  committee.  This  committee  was  comprised  of  intensivists  from  all  Australian  states,  and  a  representative  from  the  Australian  College  of  Critical  Care  Nurses  (ACCCN).  The  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  was  guided  by  Terms  of  Reference  that  included  

• To  lead  and  participate  in  the  development  and  distribution  of  suitable  tools  for  the  monitoring  of  ...  safety  and  quality  in  intensive  care  practice.  

• To  assist  in  the  development  of  comparative  measures  which  allow  intensive  care  services  to  evaluate  their  performance  against  other  similar  services  and  national  desirable  benchmarks  

• To  promote  membership  participation  in  the  use  of  such  appropriate  means  for  measuring  and  comparing  practice  safety  and  quality  

 This  group  therefore  had  the  knowledge,  influence  and  mandate  to  help  implement  sustainable  CLABSI  prevention  strategies  in  Australian  ICUs.  The  impact  of  the  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  was  

5  Harrington  G,  Richards  M,  Solano  T,  Spelman  D,  “Adult  intensive  care  unit  acquired  infection”,  in  Cruickshank  M  &  Ferguson  J  eds,  Reducing  Harm  to  Patients  from  Health  Care  Associated  Infections:  The  Role  of  Surveillance,  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  health  Care,  2008        

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also  strengthened  by  its  chairman  having  been  the  project  director  and  clinical  lead  of  the  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  Project.    In  addition,  the  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  had  a  strong  history  of  achievement,  with  one  of  its  major  endeavours  being  the  annual  International  Conference  on  Safety,  Quality,  Audit  &  Outcomes  Research  in  Intensive  Care,  2012  being  its  sixth  year.    An  intensivist  was  employed  as  medical  lead  for  one  day  per  week,  however  when  he  resigned  after  five  months,  it  was  decided  to  proceed  with  the  chair  of  the  steering  committee  acting  in  this  capacity  as  required.      A  senior  intensive  care  nurse  was  appointed  as  the  fulltime  project  manager  for  the  duration  of  the  project.  She  had  recent  experience  both  as  a  clinician  and  manager  in  tertiary  ICUs,  experience  with  research,  and  a  well-­‐established  network  of  medical  and  nursing  colleagues  across  the  country.    This  model  differed  from  other  CLABSI  projects,  especially  those  in  the  USA  and  England,  where  the  leader  was  clearly  a  doctor,  and  a  much  greater  pool  of  human  and  material  resources  were  allocated.  Much  of  the  success  of  this  model  was  due  to  the  seniority  and  clinical  credibility  within  intensive  care,  of  both  the  Project  Manager  and  the  steering  committee  chair.  

PREPARATION  -­‐  COMMUNICATION  AND  CONSULTATION    The  success  of  any  project  largely  depends  on  communication.  Most  stakeholders  were  identified  at  the  commencement  of  the  project,  however  the  list  was  modified  as  more  accurate  information  was  collected;  stakeholders  included  

• Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  Health  Care  (ACSQHC)    o Healthcare  Associated  Infection  (HAI)  Advisory  Committee:  members  were  

predominantly  doctors  working  in  infectious  diseases  and/or  microbiology    o Implementation  Committee:  members  were  infection  control  practitioners  (ICP)  o Technical  Working  Group  (TWG):  members  were  from  a  range  of  professions,  but  all  

working  in  jurisdictional  surveillance  bodies    Membership  for  all  the  above  committees  covered  all  jurisdictions.    

• Jurisdictional  Quality  and  Safety  Departments  and  Surveillance  Bodies.  • ICU  Directors  and  Nurse  Unit  Managers      • Hospital  Infection  Control  Departments  • Expert  Infectious  Diseases  (ID)  Group.  

ACSQHC  Committees     HAI  Advisory  Committee  The  HAI  Advisory  Committee  provided  important  information  on  jurisdictional  matters,  and  the  necessary  links  to  inform  project  development  and  design.  As  CLABSI  data  is  primarily  collected  and  held  at  jurisdictional  level,  and  several  jurisdictions  had  previously  established  CLABSI  strategies,  the  HAI  Advisory  Committee  was  vital  in  facilitating  negotiations  concerning  the  development  and  implementation  of  the  project.      HAI  Implementation  Committee  The  ANZICS  project  emphasised  the  importance  of  inter-­‐disciplinary  collaboration.  Feedback  from  the  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  project  identified  inadequate  communication  with  infection  control  practitioners  (ICP)  as  a  significant  issue,  so  the  Implementation  Committee  provided  an  invaluable  link  with  senior  

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ICPs,  which  was  a  key  factor  in  encouraging  their  colleagues’  early  engagement  in  the  project,  and  thereby  avoiding  the  problems  experienced  in  NSW.      HAI  Technical  Working  Group  The  work  of  the  HAI  TWG  was  primarily  to  develop  documents  to  assist  with  national  standardisation  of  specific  surveillance  processes.  In  mid  2010  the  group  included  CLABSI  in  their  work  plan,  and  invited  the  ANZICS  Project  Manager  to  join  their  monthly  teleconferences.  A  “national”  CLABSI  definition  was  ratified  in  early  2011  and  posted  on  the  ACSQHC  website,  and  a  consultation  edition  of  the  Implementation  Guide  for  Surveillance  of  Central  Line  Associated  Bloodstream  Infection  was  posted  in  early  December  2011;  the  final  version  was  pending  at  the  time  of  this  report.    Project  Manager  involvement  The  project  manager  attended  HAI  Advisory  Committee  and  Implementation  Committee  meetings  in  person  for  the  first  half  of  the  project,  and  subsequently  attended  via  teleconference.  This  reporting  structure  facilitated  early  support  of  all  the  above  ACSQHC  committees,  which  undoubtedly  contributed  to  the  positive  response  to  the  project.  

Jurisdictional  Safety  &  Quality  Departments,  Surveillance  Bodies   Over  the  previous  five  to  ten  years,  many  jurisdictions  had  tried  to  address  the  issue  of  central  line  associated  blood  stream  infections.  These  projects  were  usually  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  jurisdictional  Quality  Departments  and/or  Surveillance  Bodies,  and  had  varying  degrees  of  success;  most  notable  of  these  was  probably  the  national  “Safer  Systems  Saving  Lives”  campaign.      It  was  important  to  engage  with  all  these  bodies  at  the  outset  of  the  project,  and  to  be  mindful  of  previous  projects  and  their  outcomes,  as  well  as  current  processes  around  surveillance;  and  most  importantly,  to  gain  their  support  for  a  long-­‐term  process  of  consistent  national  data  collection,  which  would  involve  significant  practice  changes  for  some.        In  April/May  2010,  surveillance  bodies  were  asked  to  provide  information  on  their  CLABSI  surveillance  processes;  this  revealed:  

• Only  three  jurisdictions  used  the  same  CLABSI  definition  • There  was  no  central  CLASBI  data  collection  in  Tasmania  or  the  Northern  Territory  • CLASBI  surveillance  in  the  private  sector  varied  widely      • Local  reporting  and  benchmarking  varied  significantly  between  jurisdictions,  with  ICU  

clinicians  in  only  two  jurisdictions  receiving  timely  and  relevant  information  about  their  CLABSI  rate  

• There  was  no  avenue  for  paediatric  ICUs  to  benchmark    • There  was  no  national  reporting  or  benchmarking    • Where  surveillance  was  undertaken,  the  majority  of  data  was  collected  by  ICPs,  but  a  

significant  number  of  ICUs  assisted  with  the  process.    The  Project  Manager  subsequently  visited  each  of  the  jurisdictional  surveillance  bodies  to  provide  them  with  information  about  the  ANZICS  project,  and  learn  more  about  their  surveillance  processes.  These  meetings  laid  the  groundwork  for  further  discussions  during  the  project,  and  the  construction  of  a  national  database.    Information  was  also  sent  to  heads  of  the  jurisdictional  quality  departments,  and  several  took  the  opportunity  to  meet  with  the  Project  Manager.      

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ICU  Directors  and  Nurse  Unit  Managers       Active  opposition  and  non-­‐engagement  of  intensivists  was  identified  as  a  major  risk  to  the  project,  and  it  was  thought  the  Medical  Lead  would  have  a  substantial  role  in  engaging  and  placating  this  group.  Luckily,  these  fears  ended  up  being  unfounded.    Similarly,  the  ICU  director’s  influence  meant  it  was  vital  they  were  engaged  in  the  project.  Ideally  they  would  lead  the  project  within  their  ICU,  however  as  long  as  they  were  known  to  fully  support  the  project,  it  was  hoped  the  project  would  be  successful.      The  role  of  the  NUM  is  usually  more  subtle.  However  their  engagement  in  the  project  was  just  as  important,  especially  given  the  large  numbers  of  nurses  who  would  need  to  be  educated  about  the  project,  and  encouraged  to  intervene  should  the  proceduralist  not  follow  the  guidelines.  Antagonism  was  not  anticipated  from  this  group,  nevertheless  their  engagement  would  be  easier  if  the  project  was  supported  by  the  ICU  Director.  This  was  demonstrated  at  the  very  end  of  the  project  when  a  NUM  who  had  not  previously  shown  interest,  enquired  how  to  submit  data  -­‐  the  ICU  director  had  recently  changed  and  he  received  the  last  project  update  the  previous  day.      It  was  identified  that  communication  and  consultation  with  this  group  would  need  to  be  honest  and  concise,  with  any  suggestions/claims  being  well  substantiated.  Conversely,  if  there  was  little  evidence  to  support  a  certain  practice,  this  should  be  acknowledged,  with  clear  reasons  why  it  was  suggested.  The  project  team  would  need  to  be  consultative  and  flexible.    Communication  with  ICU  directors  and  nurse  unit  managers  (NUMs)  started  very  early.  As  an  ANZICS  project,  contact  details  for  all  Australian  ICU  directors  and  NUMs  were  immediately  available,  and  in  April  2010  a  survey  was  sent  to  all  ICU  directors  and  NUMs  (excluding  NSW  and  the  ACT)  to  ascertain  current  practice  around  central  line  insertion,  and  their  understanding  of  CLABSI  surveillance.  Considering  the  length  of  the  survey  (45  questions),  the  response  rate  was  exceptionally  good:  63  individual  responses  (total  sent  178)  representing  53  out  of  164  ICUs.    Responses  to  ICU  Directors  &  NUMs  Survey    Surveys  to  ICU  Dir  &  NUM    

NT   Qld   SA   Tas   Vic   WA   Total  

Sent   3   71   22   7   58   17   178  Returned  (%)   3  (100)   20  (28)   6  (27)   2  (29)   26  (45)   6  (35)   63  (35)    The  survey  included  six  specific  elements  of  the  insertion  process  that  had  been  prescribed  in  previous  insertion  guidelines  and  were  intended  to  be  recommended  in  the  ANZICS  insertion  process:  inclusion  in  local  protocols  varied  from  41%  to  100%.  These  results  provided  forewarning  of  the  areas  that  would  be  contentious  –  hats  and  full-­‐body  draping.    

Element   Inclusion  in  protocol      wear  hat   43%  wear  mask     43%  Chlorhexidine  handwash   88%  sterile  gown  &  gloves   100%  Chlorhexidine  &  alcohol  skin  preparation   100%  full-­‐body  draping   41%  

   

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Knowledge  about  CLABSI  surveillance  also  varied  considerably,  with  only  54%  of  respondents  in  ICU  knowing  that  pulmonary  artery  catheters  and  temporary  dialysis  catheters  were  classified  as  a  central  line  for  the  purposes  of  CLABSI  surveillance.    

Hospital  Infection  Control  Departments   Communication  between  ICU  and  hospital-­‐based  Infection  Control/ID  departments  varied  considerably  between  institutions  and  jurisdictions.  In  some  ICUs,  ID  consultants  did  regular  ward  rounds  of  ICU  patients  and/or  provided  advice  on  sources  of  infection  and  appropriate  treatment.  Infection  control  departments  often  performed  CLABSI  surveillance,  however  reporting  methods  and  frequency  varied  considerably,  especially  in  regard  to  reporting  back  to  ICU  clinicians.      Although  not  specifically  stated  as  an  objective  of  this  project,  a  high  degree  of  consultation  and  collaboration  was  encouraged,  as  it  supports  optimum  CLABSI  diagnosis  and  treatment,  and  increases  awareness  of  its  incidence.  Input  from  infection  control  was  therefore  valued  and  promoted  in  this  project.    Contact  with  this  group  was  initially  difficult,  and  in  the  first  instance  relied  on  responses  to  the  survey  sent  to  directors  and  NUMs,  that  provided  45  ICP  email  addresses.  The  same  survey  as  above  was  sent  to  them,  but  only  yielded  ten  responses,  although  several  replied  they  had  contributed  to  the  director’s  or  NUM’s  survey.  Once  meetings  had  occurred  with  the  surveillance  bodies  and  the  HAI  Implementation  Committee,  they  were  helpful  in  providing  links  to  ICPs,  and  their  subsequent  interest  in  general,  and  attendance  at  the  launches  was  significantly  better.  

Reference/Expert  Groups   It  was  initially  envisaged  there  would  be  two  types  of  “expert  group”,    

1. CLABSI  definition  and  prevention  groups  that  would  provide  information  on  existing  local  CLABSI  prevention  strategies  and  advice  on  the  implications  of  local  culture.  

2. A  surveillance  group  that  would  provide  information  on  local  surveillance  data  collection  and  management  processes,  and  advice  on  how  they  may  be  integrated  into  a  national  process.    

 The  roles  of  the  respective  groups  altered  when  the  HAI  TWG  incorporated  CLABSI  surveillance  into  their  work  plan,  and  it  became  clear  the  surveillance  data  would  primarily  be  submitted  to  the  national  database  by  jurisdictional  surveillance  bodies.  The  groups  became  jurisdictional  reference  groups,  and  an  expert  ID  group.    Reference  Groups  Expressions  of  interest  were  sought  from  all  ICU  directors  and  NUMs,  and  associated  ICPs  to  join  reference  groups  in  most  jurisdictions.  These  groups  were  deliberately  small  (six  to  twelve  people),  but  in  general,  there  was  a  good  mix  of  public  and  private  ICU  staff,  and  ICPs.  Meetings  with  the  Project  Manager  were  held  in  Brisbane,  Hobart,  Burnie,  Melbourne,  Adelaide  and  Perth.  These  groups  provided  invaluable  insight  into  how  each  jurisdiction  was  slightly  different,  both  in  processes  and  inter-­‐departmental  relationships.    Expert  ID  Group  This  group  was  convened  in  late  2010  when  it  became  apparent  there  was  insufficient  or  outdated  evidence  in  the  literature  regarding  several  aspects  of  central  line  maintenance.  The  group  comprised  specialists  in  infectious  diseases,  one  of  whom  was  closely  involved  in  CLABSI  surveillance;  an  intensivist  and  a  nurse  researcher,  both  with  expertise  in  central  lines.  The  group  was  drawn  from  four  jurisdictions.  

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 The  group  provided  advice  on  issues  such  as  disconnecting  and  reconnecting  administration  sets  and/or  dialysis  circuits,  re-­‐wiring  of  existing  lines,  and  replacement  of  lines  if  inserted  under  emergency  conditions.        The  process  worked  very  well,  with  only  one  meeting  via  teleconference.  The  group  was  also  invited  to  comment  on  the  final  document,  and  provided  valuable  suggestions.    

Conference  Presentations   The  Project  Manager  was  fortunate  in  being  able  to  present  the  project  at  various  conferences  around  Australia,  and  therefore  increase  the  reach  of  the  project  

• Poster,  ANZICS  &  ACCCN  Annual  Scientific  Meeting  on  Intensive  Care.    • Free  paper,  Infection  Control  Odyssey,  Australian  Infection  Control  Association  • Invited  speaker,  5th  International  Congress  of  the  Asia  Pacific  Society  of  Infection  Control  • Invited  speaker,  Annual  Seminar,  Victorian  Infection  Control  Professionals  Association  • Invited  speaker,  Australian  Society  for  Infectious  Diseases  Annual  Scientific  Meeting  

 Importantly,  delegates  included  infection  control  personnel  from  the  Asia  Pacific  region  as  well  as  Australia.  And  at  the  intensive  care  meeting,  a  delegate  from  England  commented  he  thought  the  ANZICS  project  much  simpler  than  the  one  he  had  been  involved  in.    

Newsletters   Reports  on  the  project  were  published  in  quarterly  editions  of  the  ANZICS  newsletter  The  Intensivist.  In  addition,  due  to  the  presence  of  an  ACCCN  representative  on  the  steering  committee,  reports  were  also  published  in  two  editions  of  the  ACCCN  newsletter  Critical  Times.    It  was  originally  planned  to  send  quarterly  project  updates  to  all  stakeholders;  however  as  progress  slowed,  it  was  decided  not  to  send  material  that  was  not  particularly  useful,  although  communication  continued  with  specific  groups  to  keep  them  informed.  One-­‐page  Updates  were  sent  to  all  stakeholders  in  January  2011  and  June  2012.  

Overall  Impressions   As  expected,  there  was  some  reticence/caution  both  from  ICU  staff  and  jurisdictions,  especially  where  a  significant  amount  of  change  would  be  required.  However  the  overall  response  was  remarkably  positive,  and  engendered  confidence  the  project  would  be  successful  if  a  respectful,  patient  and  inclusive  approach  was  taken.    Within  the  intensivist  group  there  was  also  a  significant  degree  of  scepticism  about  adopting  tools  designed  for  an  American  audience,  and  the  “bundle”  concept  was  particularly  unpopular.  These  responses  emphasised  the  importance  of  tailoring  the  project  to  an  Australian  setting,  and  using  language  with  which  people  were  familiar  and  comfortable;  the  term  “bundle”  was  therefore  omitted,  and  words  such  as  policy,  protocol,  and  guideline  were  adopted.      To  further  emphasise  the  project  as  being  Australian,  the  launch  presentations  included  anecdotes  the  audience  could  recognise,  and  where  possible,  local  ICU  staff  were  asked  to  share  their  experiences;  these  sessions  were  rated  very  highly  in  subsequent  launch  evaluations.      

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PREPARATION  -­‐  “INFRASTRUCTURE”  

Surveillance     As  well  as  being  one  of  the  aims  of  the  project,  the  establishment  of  a  national  CLABSI  database  and  reporting  system  provided  further  impetus  for  a  consistent  national  CLABSI  definition  and  surveillance  process  to  be  developed.  As  most  jurisdictions  were  already  using  a  version  of  the  US  Center  for  Disease  Control  and  Prevention  (CDC),  National  Healthcare  Safety  Network  (NHSN)  surveillance  definition,  the  TWG  decided  to  use  the  most  recent  CDC  NHSN  definition  (2008),  and  also  base  the  Implementation  Guide  for  Surveillance  of  Central  Line  Associated  Bloodstream  Infection  on  the  CDC  NHSN  processes.  The  definition  was  readily  agreed  upon,  however  it  took  more  than  eighteen  months  to  achieve  consensus  within  the  group  on  the  implementation  guide.    All  jurisdictions  gradually  changed  to  the  national  definition,  however  where  surveillance  was  not  already  being  performed,  the  delay  in  the  implementation  guide  slowed  its  commencement.  Similarly,  data  could  not  be  entered  into  the  national  database  until  it  was  collected  using  the  same/national  definition.      For  those  ICUs  where  CLABSI  surveillance  was  not  already  established,  an  overview  of  surveillance  processes  and  specific  tools  to  assist  in  data  collection  were  included  on  the  website.    

National  Database  and  Reporting   It  was  originally  intended  the  reporting  system  would  be  similar  to  the  one  developed  for  the  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  project,  where  data  was  entered  at  hospital  level,  and  real-­‐time  reports  would  be  generated  in  a  process  control  chart.      However  after  discussions  with  the  jurisdictional  surveillance  bodies,  it  became  apparent  there  were  already  very  efficient  data  collection  systems  in  place  in  most  jurisdictions,  and  it  would  be  foolish  to  create  a  duplicate  process.  In  addition,  unlike  the  NSW  project,  data  forwarded  to  a  national  database  would  only  be  identified  to  hospital/ICU  level,  therefore  making  audit  almost  impossible,  as  it  required  patient  identification  –  information  only  available  at  jurisdictional  level.  The  jurisdictions  could  also  undertake  other  quality  control  processes,  as  well  as  ICP  education,  that  would  not  be  possible  otherwise.  The  disadvantage  to  this  process  was  that  reports  would  not  be  real-­‐time.    In  mid  2011  most  jurisdictional  heads  granted  conditional  permission  for  public  ICU  CLABSI  data  to  be  submitted  to  the  national  database,  and  negotiations  with  the  fourteen  private  sector  providers  and  NSW  was  proceeding  at  the  time  of  this  report.      General  information  about  the  reports  was  included  on  the  website,  with  a  link  to  CORE  to  obtain  further  details  re  data  submission.    Details  of  the  database  development  and  functions  were  submitted  in  a  separate  report  from  ANZICS  CORE.  

ANZICS  Central  Line  Insertion  and  Maintenance  Guideline     Like  most  other  CLABSI  reduction  programs,  the  original  focus  of  the  ANZICS  project  was  the  central  line  insertion  process.  Insertion  is  a  discrete  event,  and  compliance  with  an  insertion  checklist  can  easily  be  calculated,  and  therefore  provide  a  simple  marker  for  quality  improvement  interventions.  However,  results  from  the  NSW  project  suggested  the  protective  effect  of  optimum  insertion  

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practices  only  lasts  up  to  seven  to  nine  days6.  In  addition,  there  are  reports  in  the  paediatric  literature  suggesting  gains  from  optimising  central  line  insertion  practice  are  not  as  marked  as  in  the  adult  population,  unless  coupled  with  careful  attention  to  maintenance  practices7.  The  ANZICS  project  therefore  developed  comprehensive  maintenance  guidelines  to  complement  the  insertion  guideline  and  checklist.    Although  this  project  was  based  on  introducing  an  insertion  guideline  developed  for  NSW  ICUs,  that  was  also  largely  consistent  with  guidelines  in  other  successful  CLABSI  prevention  programs,  it  was  essential  all  recommendations  be  evidence-­‐based  if  possible.  This  raised  a  dilemma  in  several  instances:  

• new  evidence  suggested  an  addition  to  the  insertion  process,    • the  literature  was  out-­‐dated  eg.  contemporary  insertion  practice  had  rendered  a  2011  CDC  

recommendation  inaccurate  as  their  reference  was  twenty  years  old.    • respected  organisations  had  based  their  recommendations  on  each  other’s  

recommendations  rather  than  the  original  evidence  that  suggested  a  slightly  different  approach  

• there  was  nothing  in  the  literature  regarding  the  topic  These  scenarios  were  the  basis  of  the  deliberations  by  the  ID  Expert  Group,  and  resulted  in  a  document  that  is  based  on  the  most  current  evidence  at  the  time,  but  in  some  instances,  may  not  be  in  line  with  other  organisations’  recommendations.  

Checklist  &  compliance  calculator   The  insertion  checklist  was  developed  with  10  key  steps  to  observe  maximal  barrier  precautions  and  aseptic  technique,  with  the  capacity  to  add  or  delete  other  information  as  desired.  It  included  a  reminder  that  the  assistant/observer  should  inform  the  proceduralist  if  he/she  breaches  the  sterile  field.  The  compliance  calculator  was  then  designed  for  easy  data  input  and  calculation  of  compliance  with  the  key  items.      Although  compliance  with  “the  checklist”  is  emphasised  in  much  of  the  literature,  collecting  and  collating  this  data  can  be  time-­‐consuming  and  onerous  unless  specific  time  is  dedicated  to  it.  In  keeping  with  making  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project  activities  sustainable,  rather  than  collecting  data  on  all  central  lines  inserted,  it  was  suggested  auditing  compliance  with  the  insertion  checklist  be  undertaken  at  least  three  times  per  year  for  a  month  and  when  CLABSI  rates  rose.  

Other  material   A  significant  deterrent  to  implementing  change  for  a  large  group,  especially  if  it  is  not  specifically  funded,  is  the  amount  of  work  required;  much  of  which  is  developing  the  materials  for  staff  education.  The  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project  therefore  provided  powerpoint  presentations  that  could  be  adapted  to  local  circumstances,  as  well  as  the  Project  Team’s  launch  presentations;  several  of  the  local  speakers  also  consented  to  their  presentations  being  accessible  on  the  website.      

6 McLaws  ML,  Burrell  AR.  Zero  risk  for  central  line-­‐associated  bloodstream  infection:  are  we  there  yet?  Crit  Care  Med.  2012    Feb;40(2):388-­‐93.  7 Miller  MR,  Griswold  M,  Harris  JM  2nd,  Yenokyan  G,  Huskins  WC,  Moss  M,  Rice  TB,  Ridling  D,  Campbell  D,  Margolis  P,  Muething  S,  Brilli  RJ.  Decreasing  PICU  catheter-­‐associated  bloodstream  infections:  NACHRI's  quality  transformation  efforts.  Pediatrics.  2010  Feb;125(2):206-­‐13.  Epub  2010  Jan  11.

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Website   The  website  was  intended  as  the  primary  source  of  information  and  resources  for  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project.  Unfortunately  it  was  very  delayed  due  to  several  issues,  primarily  involving  the  vendor.  Nevertheless,  the  response  from  ICU  staff  was  very  encouraging  when  it  was  finally  launched,  with  the  following  message  from  an  ICU  NUM:  

Congratulations  on  a  job  well  done!  You  have  managed  to  make  a  somewhat  dry  topic  very  interesting,  interactive  and  manageable  

LAUNCHES    The  term  “launch”  was  adopted  to  convey  a  sense  of  excitement,  rather  than  “workshop”  or  “learning  session”  which  imply  people  will  have  to  “work”.  Between  mid  November  2011  and  March  2012  launches  were  conducted  in  Hobart,  Melbourne,  Perth,  Alice  Springs  and  Adelaide;  launches  in  Brisbane  and  NSW  were  in  May  2012.      Launches  were  initially  intended  to  be  about  six  hours,  however  when  only  a  few  people  registered,  they  were  decreased  to  three  hours  with  a  tea  break  to  allow  conversation.  Subsequent  feedback  via  the  on-­‐line  evaluation  was  that  this  was  the  ideal  length.      The  launches  followed  much  the  same  pattern,  but  were  adapted  according  to  the  size  and  jurisdiction  of  the  audience.  The  Project  Manager  attended  all  launches  in  person,  and  the  chair  of  the  steering  committee  attended  all  except  Alice  Springs,  either  in  person  or  via  teleconference.        The  presentations  emphasised  how  easily  the  project  could  be  implemented  with  very  little  effort,  and  did  not  include  language  and  processes  with  which  ICU  staff  would  be  unfamiliar,  eg.  quality  improvement  or  plan/do/study/act  cycles.  The  “methodology”  was:  

• Measure  CLABSI  (this  would  involve  new  processes  for  some)  • Incorporate  changes  into  usual  practise    • Measure  CLABSI  and  review  individual  cases  (ICU  &  Infection  control  +/-­‐  ID)  • Check  insertion  compliance  as  required  • Keep  measuring  and  reviewing  CLABSI    

Tasmania:  November  2011   At  the  time  there  was  no  co-­‐ordinated  approach  to  CLABSI  surveillance  in  Tasmania,  but  some  hospital-­‐based  surveillance  occurring.      The  launch  was  held  in  Hobart  at  the  Tasmanian  Infection  Prevention  and  Control  Unit  (TIPCU)  and  attended  by  15  people    

• 10  attended  in  person,  5  via  video-­‐link    • ICU/HDU  RNs:  6,  ICPs:  6,  Doctors:  3  • three  of  four  ICUs,  Mersey  High  Dependency  Unit  and  TIPCU  were  represented  

 Several  of  the  people  who  attended  the  reference  group  meeting  the  previous  year  attended  the  launch,  so  the  proposals  were  not  new.  In  general  there  was  enthusiasm  for  the  project;  they  were  keen  to  commence  surveillance  as  soon  as  the  implementation  guide  was  available,  and  start  the  infection  prevention  part  soon  afterwards.        

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Perth:  December  2011   In  2006  all  WA  public  ICUs  were  involved  in  the  Safety  and  Quality  Investment  for  Reform  (SQuIRe),  Clinical  Practice  Improvement  (CPI)  Program  that  included  a  CLABSI  reduction  component.  By  the  end  of  2010,  CLASBI  surveillance  and  reporting  was  mandatory  in  all  public  and  specific  private  ICUs,  and  the  combined  CLABSI  rate  for  2009-­‐2010  was  0.55/1000  line  days.      Given  the  WA  rate  for  CLABSI  was  already  at  the  target  of  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project,  this  launch  was  specifically  advertised  as  being  for  new  staff,  or  units  that  had  not  been  involved  in  the  SQuIRe  CPI  program  –  either  new  ICUs  or  those  in  the  private  sector.  It  was  hosted  by  the  Communicable  Disease  Control  Directorate  (CDCD)  and  attended  by  15  people  

• ICU  RNs:  4,  ICPs:  6,  Doctors:  2,  Quality  Managers:  3  • nine  of  twelve  ICUs  and  the  CDCD  represented  

Alice  Springs:  January  2012    Given  there  was  only  one  ICU  in  Alice  Springs,  this  launch  was  more  informal,  consisting  of  a  discussion  with  the  director  and  NUM,  and  a  presentation  to  staff.  In  all,  there  were  4  Doctors,  7  RNs,  1  ICP  and  a  pharmacist.  The  ICU  director,  ICU  NUM  and  ICP  were  keen  to  implement  the  project,  and  subsequently  made  contact  with  the  Project  Manager  for  further  advice.    

Victoria:  February  2012   Since  2003  CLABSI  surveillance  had  been  co-­‐ordinated  by  the  Victorian  Healthcare  Associated  Infection  Surveillance  System  (VicNISS)  in  most  public  Victorian  ICUs,  with  well-­‐established  mechanisms  for  ICU  staff  to  receive  reports.  Some  ICUs  had  already  battled  elevated  rates,  so  there  was  a  high  degree  of  knowledge  within  the  public  sector  staff.  The  most  popular  presentations  were  the  ones  by  staff  from  an  ICU  that  had  managed  an  unacceptable  CLABSI  rate.    The  launch  was  held  at  the  Department  of  Health  

• 48  attended:  7  doctors,  18  ICU  RNs,  21  ICPs,  2  Quality  Managers  • 20  of  36  ICUs  and  VicNISS  represented  

Adelaide:  February  2012   Specific  CLABSI  surveillance  was  not  previously  performed  in  Adelaide  ICUs,  so  undertaking  this  project  involved  changes  in  many  departments.  However,  having  previously  met  with  several  stakeholders,  and  given  them  time  to  consider  how  the  changes  might  be  implemented,  the  responses  at  the  launch  were  encouraging.      The  launch  was  held  at  the  Department  of  Health  

• 30  attended:  7  Doctors,  7  ICU  RNs,  2  CVC  CNCs,  14  ICPs  • ten  of  twelve  ICUs  represented  

New  South  Wales:  April  2012   This  launch  was  only  intended  for  private  ICUs  as  they  had  not  been  well  represented  in  the  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  project  in  2007-­‐08,  and  permission  had  not  yet  been  granted  for  NSW  public  ICU  CLASBI  surveillance  data  to  be  submitted  to  the  national  database.  The  launch  was  held  at  the  ACSQHC  

• attended  by  6  people:  5  ICU  RNs,  1  ICP  • three  of  sixteen  ICUs  represented  

 

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Although  the  people  who  attended  were  very  enthusiastic,  the  number  was  disappointing.  It  was  not  clear  why  this  was  so,  however  the  NSW  CLAB-­‐ICU  project  involved  a  significant  amount  of  data  collection  for  ICU  staff,  and  perhaps  it  was  not  clearly  enough  stated  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project  did  not  require  the  same  amount  of  data  collection,  despite  the  prevention  intervention  being  much  the  same.  

Queensland:  May  2012   Similar  to  SA,  specific  CLABSI  surveillance  was  not  previously  performed  in  Queensland  ICUs,  so  undertaking  this  project  involved  changes  for  many  people  over  a  large  geographic  area.  However,  having  previously  met  with  staff  from  the  Centre  for  Healthcare  Related  Infection  Surveillance  and  Prevention  (CHRISP),  they  were  able  to  incorporate  surveillance  changes  when  they  implemented  new  computer  software;  the  ANZICS  Prevention  Project  launch  was  scheduled  to  accommodate  this.      Although  there  was  no  specific  ICU  CLABSI  reporting,  many  ICUs  were  involved  in  the  Department  of  Health,  Safety  and  Quality  Unit,  Clinical  Practice  Improvement  Program  to  decrease  CLASBI  using  a  central  line  insertion  checklist.  The  ANZICS  Project  Manager  developed  a  strong  working  relationship  with  the  coordinator  of  the  State-­‐wide  Intensive  Care  Clinical  Network  (SICCN)  at  the  beginning  of  the  project,  and  was  able  to  make  suggestions  about  the  contents  of  the  checklist.  In  addition,  the  ANZICS  Project  Manager  was  invited  to  two  SICCN  meetings  in  2010,  one  of  which  was  attended  by  directors  and  NUMs  from  the  majority  of  Queensland  ICUs,  including  rural  units.  These  activities  resulted  in  a  high  proportion  of  Queensland  ICUs  already  following  many  of  the  ANZICS  recommendations  by  the  time  of  the  official  launch  in  2012.      The  formal  launch  of  the  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project  was  held  at  the  Centre  for  Clinical  Research  

• 47  attended:  4  Doctors,  27  ICU  RNs,  16  ICPs  • 20  of  35  ICUs,  CHRISP  and  the  SICCN  were  represented  

 Responses  were  guarded  until  it  was  made  clear  data  collection  was  minimal  and  tools  had  been  provided.    

Launch  evaluation   A  short  on-­‐line  anonymous  evaluation  was  sent  to  participants  at  the  larger  launches;  125  surveys  were  sent  and  38  responses  received.  The  response  rates  were  Queensland:  23%,  Victoria:  33%  and  South  Australia:  37%,  with  almost  equal  numbers  of  ICU  RNs  and  ICPs.    Length  of  launch  –  3  hours  Only  one  person  said  the  launch  was  too  short,  and  three  people  said  it  was  too  long,  leaving  89%  who  thought  it  was  “about  right”.    What  topics  would  you  like  to  have  heard  more  about?  This  was  a  free  text  question  with  most  responses  falling  into  the  categories  of  either  information  about  the  website,  or  examples  of  how  specific  processes  would  be  done.      What  topics  would  you  like  to  have  heard  less  about?  There  were  no  responses  to  this  question          

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Usefulness  of  information    Categories   Response  count     Response  %    

(of  all  responders)  Not  at  all   0   0  Slightly  useful   2   5.3  Moderately  useful   11   28.9  Very  useful   19   50  Extremely  useful   6   15.8    What  other  comments/suggestions  would  you  like  to  make?  This  was  a  free-­‐text  question  that  elicited  20  responses,  four  typical  responses  were:  

• The  day  was  great,  need  to  know,  easy  to  digest  and  I  found  it  extremely  useful  • I  thought  it  covered  the  topic  well.  Had  both  why  the  need  for  change  and  had  information  

from  a  hospital  that  implemented  change  to  address  how  you  might  implement  change.  • Well  done;  we  are  fortunate  that  both  ICU  &  Inf  Control  staff  attended  this  -­‐  always  gives  us  

the  same  sense  of  direction  for  specific  projects.  • Excellent  Seminar.  

 Unsolicited  feedback  via  email  to  the  project  Manager  included:  

• Thank  you  for  such  thorough  planning  and  information  • I  really  enjoyed  the  workshop.  It  was  fantastic.  Well  done.  I  now  have  lots  of  ideas.  • Congratulations  on  all  the  amazing  work  and  enthusiasm  you  have  channelled  into  CLABSI.  

Your  hard  work  has  made  this  concept  a  lot  more  accessible  and  digestible  for  novices  like  me.  

Overall  impressions   The  response  to  the  launches  was  very  positive;  recognising  those  who  attended  were  most  likely  “the  converted”.    Nevertheless,  participants  asked  challenging  questions,  especially  about  the  validity  of  certain  recommendations,  and  the  presenters  were  always  honest  in  their  answers  and  acknowledged  when  the  evidence  was  scant.  Most  importantly,  the  Project  Team  provided  clinical  examples  the  audience  recognised.  The  presentations  from  local  ICUs  about  their  strategies  to  prevent  CLABSI  were  particularly  well-­‐received,  and  would  have  enhanced  other  launches  had  their  inclusion  been  possible.  

THE  FUTURE      The  Project  Manager  role  concluded  at  the  end  of  June  2012,  however  it  was  always  intended  the  changes  implemented  during  the  project  should  be  sustainable.  The  Project  Manager  therefore  worked  closely  with  the  Executive  Officer  of  the  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  to  enable  her  to  provide  ongoing  support  for  the  project.  She  will  ensure  the  website  material  is  kept  up-­‐to-­‐date,  field  enquiries  about  the  project,  and  provide  assistance  where  possible.  She  also  has  a  background  as  an  intensive  care  nurse,  and  can  draw  upon  the  expertise  of  the  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  as  necessary.    The  Executive  Officer  of  the  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee  will  provide  guidance  about  how  CLABSI  surveillance  is  conducted,  but  all  aspects  of  data  submission  to  the  national  ANZICS  CLABSI  database  and  access  to  reports,  will  be  managed  by  ANZICS  CORE.    

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CONCLUSIONS    The  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project  was  a  successful  national  quality  improvement  project  lead  by  a  professional  organisation  with  backing  from  the  Australian  Commission  on  Safety  and  Quality  in  Healthcare.      Due  to  delays  in  implementation  and  establishment  of  the  national  database,  it  is  not  yet  possible  to  say  whether  the  aim  of  reducing  CLABSI  in  all  Australian  ICUs  to  <1/1000  line  days  was  achieved,  however  the  other  aims  to  

• facilitate  a  process  for  accurate  and  consistent  measurement  and  reporting  of  CLABSI  in  ICUs  throughout  Australia,    

• implement  an  agreed,  evidence-­‐based  guideline  were  achieved  with  the  added  benefit  of  building  on  many  existing  processes.    Although  based  on  similar  projects  both  within  Australia  and  overseas,  there  were  several  specific  factors  that  contributed  to  this  project’s  success  and  acceptance    

• Access  to  high-­‐level  committees  through  the  ACSQHC  that  facilitated  the  development  of  an  agreed  national  CLABSI  surveillance  process  

• Input  from  ICU,  infection  control  and  the  jurisdictional  surveillance  bodies  was  sought  at  the  outset  to  inform  content  and  approach  

• The  content  and  language  was  tailored  to  an  Australian  audience  • There  was  an  emphasis  on  simplicity  and  building  on  existing  processes  • Collaboration  between  ICU  and  Infection  Control  was  encouraged  • The  Project  Team  were  experienced  clinicians  in  the  field  of  intensive  care  and  therefore  had  

credibility  with  the  target  audience,  and  knew  how  to  communicate  with  them  • Tools  were  provided  to  assist  implementation  at  a  unit  level  • Guidelines  were  based  on  the  best  evidence  or  expert  opinion  available  

 This  successful  cost-­‐effective  model  is  recommended  for  future  quality  improvement  interventions  that  target  clinician  behaviour.      Gabrielle  Hanlon  Project  Manager  ANZICS  CLABSI  Prevention  Project    Tony  Burrell  Chair  ANZICS  Safety  and  Quality  Committee