Multimodal and multidisciplinary strategies in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections – the example of catheter-associated bloodstream infections

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect millions of patients worldwide each year. Bloodstream infections represent about 12% of all HAI. Most healthcare-associated bloodstream infections are catheter-associated and are largely preventable. This was evidenced in a recent large systematic review about organisation and structure in infection prevention and control. Behavioural change interventions are complex and such programmes must follow a multimodal strategy developed by multidisciplinary teams, and taking into account local conditions. Multimodal strategies are a combination of technology and best practice, which are delivered by different “modes” such as lectures, visual reminders, simulation training, or any other original idea of dissemination. Two projects summarized here are examples of successful multimodal prevention strategies. They promoted comprehensive best practice procedures and both used different modes and professions to provide education and training. The major challenge of multimodal strategies is “implementation” and more research must be invested on this aspect in the future.