Safety milestone at Dunedin Hospital Intensive Care Unit

3 February 2015

Another safety milestone celebrated at Dunedin Hospital Intensive Care Unit

Staff at Dunedin Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) celebrated another safety milestone today. Last October, Dunedin ICU reached 1000 days without a single case of bloodstream infection known as central line-associated bacteraemia, or CLAB. Today they made it to 1111 days – three years.

CLAB is a blood stream infection caused by central line catheters which can lead to longer hospital stays and associated costs. Their prevention is vital in the fight against healthcare associated infections and DHBs across the country are working to reduce its occurrence.

Photo above left to right Kim Caffell, Patient Safety and Policy Advisor and Carla Maley, ICU Registered Nurse presenting a cake to Lyall Trethowan, Charge Anaesthetic Technician to thank the Anaesthetic team for their support in reaching this milestone

Southern DHB Director of Quality, Tina Gilbertson said that, “this has been a real team effort, with significant clinical leadership by Dr.Markus Renner- ICU/Anaesthetic Specialist, and Carla Maley- ICU Registered Nurse.

“The work to continue with this important patient safety initiative would also not be possible however without the great support of other teams involved including the Anaesthetic Departments, the Emergency Departments (ED), Infectious Disease, Microbiology and wider ICU/Critical Care Unit (CCU) teams on the Dunedin and Invercargill sites.”

“It’s all about following strict standardised procedures to prevent bacteria entering lines the moment the line is inserted and throughout the patients care,” she said

Teaching and learning for staff throughout the DHB is ongoing with insertion bundles now standardised across the district and are available in the Main Operating Theatre (MOT), ICU/CCU and ED’s.

“The gains made have a significant impact on reducing harm to Southern patients. It saves lives and reduces the length of stay in ICU and in hospital. The team in ICU have been enthusiastic and supportive and have worked hard to make this happen. It’s a credit to them that we’ve reached this milestone,” commented Mrs Gilbertson.

ENDS

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