Chlorhexidine bathing to reduce central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection: impact and sustainability.

BACKGROUND: Chlorhexidine bathing has been associated with reductions in healthcare-associated bloodstream infection. To determine the impact and sustainability of the effect of chlorhexidine bathing on central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection, we performed a prospective, 3-phase, multiple-hospital study. METHODS: In the medical intensive care unit and the respiratory care unit of a tertiary care hospital and the medical-surgical intensive care units of 4 community hospitals, rates of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection were collected prospectively for each period. Pre-intervention (phase 1) patients were bathed with soap and water or nonmedicated bathing cloths; active intervention (phase 2) patients were bathed with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloths with the number of baths administered and skin tolerability assessed; post-intervention (phase 3) chlorhexidine bathing was continued but without oversight by research personnel. Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection rates were compared over study periods using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Compared with pre-intervention, during active intervention there were significantly fewer central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (6.4/1000 central venous catheter days vs 2.6/1000 central venous catheter days, relative risk, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.68; P<.001), and this reduction was sustained during post-intervention (2.9/1000 central venous catheter days; relative risk, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.70; P<.001). During the active intervention period, compliance with chlorhexidine bathing was 82%. Few adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: In this multiple-hospital study, chlorhexidine bathing was associated with significant reductions in central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection, and these reductions were sustained post-intervention when chlorhexidine bathing was unmonitored. Chlorhexidine bathing was well tolerated and is a useful adjunct to reduce central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection.

Development of a framework for the evidence-based choice of outcome measures in neurological physiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Neurological physiotherapists recognize the need to include standardized outcome measures (OMs) in clinical practice but lack of information about the OMs available hampers utilization. This paper reports on the first stage of a project to identify the most robust OMs for use in neurological physiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To identify what physiotherapists perceive that they need to measure during a neurological assessment. METHODS: Three separate workshops were held using patient vignettes to represent the acute, rehabilitation and community settings. Thirty senior neurological physiotherapists participated and were asked: 'What would you observe, test or measure if assessing this patient?' Data were analysed using thematic content analysis performed independently by each of the authors. Internal and external member checking ensured validity. In addition, the authors produced definitions of the items and domains identified in the data collection and subsequent content analysis. RESULTS: Items from the data collection were classified into 16 domains that physiotherapists need to measure: Weakness; range of movement/contracture; pain; muscle tone/spasticity; sensation; ataxia/co-ordination; personal fatigue; oedema; subluxation; postural and balance impairment; walking impairment; upper limb; balance disability; walking disability; mobility disability and falls. CONCLUSIONS: The domains that physiotherapists need to measure during clinical assessment were identified. In the second stage of the project these domains will inform systematic reviews to identify the most robust outcome measures for use in clinical practice.