CVC blood sampling and its impact on CLABSI rates

"Increased frequency of CVC access is associated with a higher risk of CLABSI. Interventions to reduce CVC access for blood draws can effectively lower CLABSI rates. Identifying and implementing strategies such as use of phlebotomy teams and standardized sampling protocols may help guide hospital policies and improve patient safety outcomes" Davis et al (2025).

"Increased frequency of CVC access is associated with a higher risk of CLABSI. Interventions to reduce CVC access for blood draws can effectively lower CLABSI rates. Identifying and implementing strategies such as use of phlebotomy teams and standardized sampling protocols may help guide hospital policies and improve patient safety outcomes" Davis et al (2025).

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CVC blood sampling and its impact on CLABSI rates

Abstract:

Background: Central venous catheters (CVCs) inherently pose a risk of infection through fluid infusion, medication administration, and blood draws. We conducted a scoping review evaluating the risk of accessing a CVC and aiming to identify strategies and interventions for reducing or limiting CVC usage to decrease the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in hospital settings.

Methods: This review adheres to the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Searches were conducted in the CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus databases, focusing on publications from the past decade.

Results: Six studies met inclusion criteria. One study reported a 0.7% increased daily risk of CLABSI for each additional CVC access. Four studies showed that limiting blood draws from CVCs was associated with reductions in CLABSI rates, including improvements in standardized infection ratios and decreases in bloodstream infection counts. Three primary interventions were identified: (1) establishing standardized CVC sampling times, (2) utilizing phlebotomists to perform peripheral blood cultures, and (3) avoiding the use of CVCs for both blood cultures and routine blood draws.

Conclusion: Increased frequency of CVC access is associated with a higher risk of CLABSI. Interventions to reduce CVC access for blood draws can effectively lower CLABSI rates. Identifying and implementing strategies such as use of phlebotomy teams and standardized sampling protocols may help guide hospital policies and improve patient safety outcomes. Future research should focus on prospective evaluation of these approaches.”

Reference:

Davis MBH, Kobayashi T, Trautman K, Brust K. Limiting Central Venous Catheter Access for Blood Sampling and its Impact on Central Line-associated blood stream infection: A Scoping Review. Am J Infect Control. 2025 Nov 4:S0196-6553(25)00709-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.11.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41198033.