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Preventing central line associated bloodstream infections is feasible; although numerous hospitals continue to face challenges in achieving this important patient safety goal.
The aim of this project was to reduce the incidence of central line associated bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit.
This evidence-based practice quality improvement project was conducted in the general intensive care unit with 35 beds in King Abdullah Medical City in response to an increase in reported central line associated bloodstream infections cases. A searchable clinical question was formulated, and the relevant literature was reviewed and critically appraised to identify effective prevention strategies. Multimodal Interventions were then implemented and evaluated. The Plan, Do, Study, Act methodology was integrated with an evidence-based practice model to enhance the effectiveness, sustainability, and overall quality of the initiatives.
Central line associated bloodstream infection rates decreased from 1.37 to 0.62 per 1000 central line days in the intensive care unit following implementation of the interventions. Moreover, the project generated a total cost savings of $244,201 USD (915,756 SAR), reflecting reduced costs associated with central line associated bloodstream infection cases over the subsequent 18 months.
Implementation of multimodal interventions is essential to decrease central line associated bloodstream infection rate in intensive care units.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in critically ill patients is often undetected. However, it is unclear whether ultrasound surveillance for early detection of DVT in high-risk medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients improves patients’ outcomes. The DETECT trial (Diagnosing deep-vein thrombosis early in critically ill patients) evaluates the effect of twice-weekly bilateral lower limb ultrasound compared to usual care on 90-day mortality of critically ill adult patients admitted to medical, surgical and trauma ICUs.
The DETECT trial is an international, parallel-group, open-label, randomised trial, which will recruit 1800 critically ill adults from over 14 hospitals in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Eligible patients will be allocated to twice-weekly bilateral lower limb ultrasound or usual care. The primary outcome is 90-day mortality. Secondary outcomes include lower limb proximal DVT, pulmonary embolism and clinically important bleeding. The first patient was enrolled on 21 March 2023. As of 8 April 2025, 711 patients have been enrolled from 14 centres in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The first interim analysis was conducted on 14 May 2025. We expect to complete recruitment by December 2026.
Institutional review boards (IRBs) of each participating institution approved the study. We plan to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals and present the findings at international critical care conferences.
Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05112705, registered on 9-11-2021.
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