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Background: Catheter-related blood-stream infection (CRBSI) is a serious and costly complication associated with central venous catheters. Nursing interventions that focus on decreasing bacterial colonization at the insertion site could decrease infection rates. Method: This retrospective study examined CRBSI in patients requiring peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) for total parenteral nutrition. One hundred and ninety-two patients with 235 catheters and an average dwell time of 11.5 days participated. Nursing interventions included a chlorhexidine-impregnated sponge dressing and a double skin scrub prior to insertion. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the interventions did not reduce CRBSI in the target population but the double skin scrub did decrease CRBSI in the general PICC population.

Prolonging the interval between the change of transparent dressings from 3 times weekly to once weekly and switching from alcohol swab sticks to pads was associated with an increase in BSIs, which was controlled after returning to the original policy.