Aiming for zero: decreasing central line associated bacteraemia in the intensive care unit.

Aim: To eliminate Central Line Associated Bacteraemia (CLAB) in the Critical Care Complex (CCC)-Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU)-Middlemore Hospital.

Method: Multifaceted quality improvement programme that included: engagement with ICU leadership and education of ICU staff; the introduction of a CLAB prevention bundle of care through standardised checklists for central line insertion (December 2008) and line maintenance (July 2009); the development of a central line pack; and rapid, visual feedback of results.

Results: Absolute numbers of CLAB in the CCC decreased from 14 in 2008, to 4 in 2009 and 1 in the first 6 months of 2010 (despite increase in bed census and a doubling of admissions).