Reducing Bloodstream Infections (BSIs) Group

Following are links to tools that will assist you in achieving your BSI reduction goals:

Orientation

For an overview of BSI Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) goals, inclusion criteria, interventions, reporting requirements, best practices, and more, view the 2020 BSI QIA Orientation Webinar slide deck (PDF).

QAPI Resources

• Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) QIA Monitoring Form
  Use the QAPI QIA Monitoring Form for tracking access- and CVC-related BSIs, the number of patients who have had two or more BSIs within a 12-month period, and BSI prevention education and for discussion of progress toward goals during QAPI meetings.

Medical Records Request Form
Use this fillable form that requires facility medical director signature to request blood culture results and other medical records for your patients.

• Fillable (PDF)
• Non-Fillable (PDF)

CDC Resources

• CDC Core Interventions
  These Core Interventions have been proven to reduce dialysis-related BSIs. Apply these interventions when using the Audit Tools and Checklists.

• • CDC Core Intervention Poster
    This poster outlines the CDC approach to BSI prevention in dialysis facilities.
    
    
  • CDC Days Since Last Bloodstream Infection poster
    • English non-fillable
    • English fillable
    • Spanish non-fillable
•  
  • CDC Arteriovenous Fistula and Graft (AVF and AVG) Cannulation Tools
    • Audit Tool: AVF/AVG Cannulation Observations (For monthly reporting.)
    • Checklist: AVF/AVG Decannulation
    • Checklist: AVF/AVG Cannulation

• • CDC Audit Tool: Hemodialysis Hand Hygiene Observations (For monthly reporting.)

  • CDC Catheter Care Tools
    • Audit Tool: Catheter Connection and Disconnection Observations (For monthly reporting.)
    • Checklist: Hemodialysis Catheter Connection
    • Checklist: Hemodialysis Catheter Disconnection
    • Hemodialysis Central Venous Catheter Scrub-the-Hub Protocol

• • CDC Catheter Exit Site Tools
    • Audit Tool: Catheter Exit Site Care Observations (For monthly reporting.)
    • Checklist: Hemodialysis Catheter Exit Site Care

• • Training Videos and PowerPoints
    • CDC Preventing BSIs in Outpatient Dialysis Patients (Video 11:17) 
    • National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Event Surveillance Training
      
      • This training is mandatory on an annual basis.
    • What is a Learning and Action Network (LAN)? (Video 2:17) 

• • CDC Infection Protection Tools Page
    This page includes additional links to all CDC infection protection tools, including core interventions, the Scrub-the-Hub Protocol, all audit tools and checklists, as well as clinician education.

Patient Resources

• BSI Patient Pledge (English/Spanish)—Use this patient pledge with your patients to promote good hand hygiene practices.

• Test Your Hand Hygiene Knowledge (5:42)

  This is an interactive module designed to share with patients before they participate in hand hygiene audits.
• Infection Prevention—Washing Your Vascular Access (English/Spanish) 
  This one-page document can be used with patients to explain the importance of washing the access and recognizing the signs and symptoms of infection.
• Clean Hands Saves Lives (English/Spanish)
  This one-page document explains what patients should look for when observing staff hand hygiene procedures.
• Sepsis Zone Tool (English/Spanish)
  This one-page document specifies and categorizes symptoms of sepsis and actions to be taken if those symptoms manifest by green—No Signs of Infection, yellow—Caution, and re—Medical Alert.