Prevention of line sepsis

October 3, 2008

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Today representatives from the roundtable summit, “A Leadership Strategy for the Prevention of Line Sepsis,” released a policy statement outlining strategies for patients and healthcare professionals to reduce the incidence of line sepsis, a potentially fatal hospital-acquired infection that affects approximately 250,000 patients each year in the U.S. alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The summit engaged healthcare providers across disciplines, government agencies and constituency groups. The recommendations were announced by representatives from Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC), University HealthSystem Consortium and West Penn Allegheny Health System.

The recommendations developed independently by panel members call for patients, healthcare associations, government agencies and healthcare professionals to work collaboratively to drastically reduce line infection and include:

1. Standardized measurement and implementation of best practices

2. Expand patient education to foster greater involvement in their own healthcare

3. Cross-disciplinary team development and continuing education on best practices

4. Organizational leadership to support a culture of patient safety

5. Greater incentives for compliance and data transparency

Click here for the full story on Marketwatch.