Minimising central venous catheter‐associated bloodstream infections –‘Matching Michigan’ in England

Abstract

Health care-acquired infections (HCAIs) are a major concern for the National Health Service (NHS) and health systems worldwide. At international level, the importance of patient safety has encouraged the development of many new improvement programmes, including practice changes to reduce the risk of patients contracting HCAIs. In the UK, the importance of clinical engagement is emphasized in the Health and Social Care Act (Department of Health (DH), 2008a, p. 2), which states: ‘Effective prevention and control of HCAI has to be embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently by everyone’. This objective was reinforced in the Saving Lives document (DH, 2007a) and the Clean, Safe Care Programme (DH, 2008b), which provide guidance on methods for reducing the burden of HCAIs. Agencies and professional organizations have also had to consider how to avoid overwhelming staff with new initiatives and dealing with competing demands for safer care with higher throughput.