Guidelines
CVC Infection Prevention

CVC Infection Prevention

Avoidance of the femoral site; subclavian and IJ sites preferred

Use ultrasound guidance to decrease number of “pokes”

Catheters put in under less-controlled circumstances (i.e. cardiac arrest) should be considered for replacement/removal

HAND HYGIENE for insertion, maintenance, and accessing the line

Chlorhexidine impregnated dressings and daily chlorhexidine washes may reduce CLABSI rates when all other measures failure to reduce rates

Evaluate the need for each line daily and remove when unnecessary

Routine replacement of central lines at arbitrary time intervals is NOT effective for prevention

For CVC insertion or over-wire exchange (not recommended), maximal barrier precautions (glove/gowns/mask/cap/full body drape) and skin antisepsis