Catheter-related safety measures not only reduce infection rates, but save money as well, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
While previous research has shown quality improvement interventions can reduce the rates of both catheter-related bloodstream infections and central-line-associated bloodstream infections, little is known about the economic value of such protocols.
To assess both the clinical and fiscal benefits of catheter-related quality improvement interventions, researchers examined 15 unique studies containing data from more than 100 hospitals. Reviewers assessed design, effectiveness, costs and quality of the studies. Safety protocols used in the studies included safety checklists, covering catheters with antimicrobial dressings and checking catheters daily for indications of infection.
Analysis revealed the median cost of implementing catheter safety programs was approximately $270,000 per facility. But for every $100,000 spent, the hospital gained an average of $315,000 in savings as a result of treating fewer infected patients. On average, safety interventions were associated with a 57 percent reduction in bloodstream infections.
"Due to the high cost of caring for patients when central-line infections develop, even sizable up-front investments in infection prevention can be associated with large net savings," said lead study author Teryl Nuckols, MD, director of the division of general internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "On the basis of our findings, hospitals that have not yet achieved very low rates of infection can consider implementing a variety of safety practices."
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