Chlorhexidine Swabs Effectiveness in Reducing Blood Stream Infections

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Children's) is collaborating with Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) in the nationwide effort to reduce catheter related blood stream infections (BSIs). The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) is participating in this initiative by implementing the BSI "Bundles" per the CHCA guidelines. BSI "bundles" are a group of patient care practices designed to reduce BSI infection rates with implementation in patient care areas. Multiple risk factors are assumed to contribute to the high risk and rate of infection in the CICU patient population. Many risk factors cannot be controlled, such as patient age, weight, diagnosis, etc. Hence the controllable risk factors are the focus for reducing BSI rates, primarily related to the care of central lines. This is the main focus of the BSI Bundles which are aimed at reducing the risks associated with the utilization of central lines. The primary aim is to determine if CHG is effective as an antiseptic wipe for accessing lines to draw blood and administer medications. Compare the effectiveness of CHG containing alcohol wipes (3.15% CHG/70% isopropyl alcohol) to plain alcohol in order to determine best practice for the CICU. The secondary aim is to reduce BSI rates in the CICU patient population, improving patient care outcomes and reducing costs of hospitalization by the resulting reduction and prevention of expected BSIs.