Reducing Bloodstream Infections (BSI)
The Networks have been tasked with reducing the rate of bloodstream infections by supporting the use of the National Health and Safety Network (NHSN), encouraging dialysis facility participation in ESRD National Coordinating Center (NCC) Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Learning Action Network (LAN) calls, and assisting dialysis facilities in the implementation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Core interventions.
About Bloodstream Infections (BSIs)
Infections are the second leading cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The majority of these infections are due to catheter-related bloodstream infections. As a result, a five-year target has been set to guide national health promotion and management to improve the health of all people in the United States living with ESRD. The goal of the Network is to reduce the national rate of bloodstream infections in dialysis patients by 50 percent of the bloodstream infections that occurred in 2016 by 2023.
The Network will:
- Assist facilities to implement and monitor all of the CDC recommended interventions for dialysis BSI prevention
- Educate target facilities on the CDC Core Interventions and assist the facilities in the implementation of the interventions
- Assist facilities in monitoring their progress toward implementing the interventions and reduction of BSIs
- Monitor the progress of facilities and assist any facility that is unable to progress towards the goal
- Involve patient Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), family members, and/or care partners are the facility level in discussions about infection control practices and ways to feel more comfortable bringing issues to the attention of staff members
- Support facilities in completing annual National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) dialysis event surveillance training
Tools & Resources
Patient Education
- Dialysis 101 - Tips for Staying Healthy Outside of the Dialysis Clinic: English|Spanish
- Dialysis 101 - Guide to a Healthier You: English|Spanish
- Sepsis Education for Patients: Link
- Conversation Starter to Prevent Infections in Dialysis Patients: Handout
- Cleanliness in the Clinic - How Speaking Up Can Prevent Infection: Read It!
- My Life is in Your Hands - Please Wash Them!: Read It!
Provider Education
- Environmental Surface Disinfection Dialysis Audit Tool: Network 1|Network 2|Network 6|Network 9
- Surface Disinfection Provider & Patient Resource: Guide
- Dialysis Audit Tool: Hand Hygiene with Sanitizer (English): Network 1|Network 2|Network 6|Network 9
- Dialysis Audit Tool: Hand Hygiene with Sanitizer (Spanish): Network 1|Network 2|Network 6|Network 9
- Hand Sanitizer Audit Tool Provider and Patient Resource: Guide
- National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN): Link
- Healthcare Professional Sepsis Information: Link
- Infection Prevention Audit Tools and Checklists: Link
- Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition: Link
- National Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections: Road Map to Elimination: Link
- Dialysis Data Reports: Link
- Tracking Infections in Outpatient Dialysis Facilities: Link
- Dialysis Safety - Clinician Education: Link
- Hemodialysis Central Venous Catheter Scrub-the-Hub Protocol: Guide
- Environmental Surface Disinfection in Dialysis Facilities: Guide
- Arteriovenous Fistula & Graft Checklist: Cannulation|Decannulation
- Hemodialysis Catheter Checklist: Connection|Disconnection
- Hemodialysis Station Routine Disinfection Observations: Audit Tool
- Catheter Exit Site Care Observations: Audit Tool
- Hemodialysis Injectable Medication Preparation: Audit Tool
- Hemodialysis Hand Hygiene Observation: Audit Tool
- Arteriovenous Fistula/Graft Cannulation Observations: Audit Tool
- Catheter Connection and Disconnection Observations: Audit Tool
- Preventing Bloodstream Infections in Outpatient Hemodialysis Patients: Best Practices for Dialysis Staff: Video