The impact of a clinical nurse's role on CVC infections and bacteremia: a two year comparative, retrospective study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the central venous catheter (CVC) tip infection rate among patients in general wards for the 12 months prior to, and during, the appointment of a TPN clinical nurse at the 500 bed Gold Coast Hospital, Southport, Queensland. These data could then be utilized to assess the benefits of a TPN clinical nurse dedicated to the care of CVCs on the central line infection rate. A comparative retrospective study of 542 CVC tips cultured and analysis of positive blood cultures growing the same organisms was carried out over a two year period. The incidence of CVC tip infections over the study period showed a significant reduction from 37% in the year prior to the appointment of the TPN clinical nurse, to 16% during the first year of appointment. The incidence of bacteremia from all positive CVC tips cultured also decreased from 7.1% to 3.3% respectively.