The rate of central line-associated blood stream infections dropped by 74 percent after implementing a simulation-based mastery learning curriculum for central venous catheter insertion, according to a study in BMJ Quality & Safety.
Researchers implemented the curriculum for medical residents in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago from September 2010 to May 2012.
In the 23 months prior to the curriculum intervention, there were 3.82 CLABSIs per 1,000 catheter days in the ICU, compare to 1.29 infections per 1,000 catheter days in the 21 months after the intervention.
Additionally, residents were required to undergo a simulated internal jugular and subclavian CVC insertion before they could tend to patients on the ICU. The average pre-test score for internal jugular simulation was 35.5 percent, while the average post-test score was 93 percent. For the subclavian simulation, the average pre-test score was 23 percent and jumped to 96.1 percent following the post-test.
Researchers suggest implementing such a learning curriculum can be successful in reducing CLABSIS, and "rigorous medical education is a powerful quality improvement tool," according to the study.
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