The Effect of the Central Venous Catheter Care Bundle on Intensive Care Unit Infection Level: Prospective Control Group Cohort Study

Objective: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a care bundle in preventing central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections in patients treated in the intensive care unit. Material and Methods: A prospective control group cohort study design. Using 105 patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU)of a state hospital located in northern Türkiye. Following the training provided to physicians and nurses working in the ICU regarding the care bundle, the intervention was implemented on the patients for 1 year, and daily follow-ups were conducted to monitor the development of catheter infections. Data were collected using patient information form and central venous catheter care bundle data. Results: No significant difference was found between the descriptive characteristics of the experimental and control group patients. Throughout the study period, 5 patients in the control group and only 1 patient in the experimental group developed a central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection. A decrease in the rate of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection was identified in the experimental group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The implementation of the care package approach was found to be highly effective in preventing central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections, so should be adopted as a routine protocol in patients hospitalized in the ICU with a catheter indication.