Achieving a Zero Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection Rate in 4 Critical Care Units in Lebanon.

Every health care facility aims to achieve and maintain a zero central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate. Infections can be costly for institutions of any size and are often not covered by health insurance. The interventions put in place in this quality improvement project were implemented in 4 phases: (1) develop a new standard of care for central lines and give nurses full responsibility for the care and handling of these lines (including blood sampling); (2) revise policy and provide educational sessions to support nurses; (3) document compliance with the new policy; and (4) document CLABSI rates.

Establishing an ECMO program in a developing country: challenges and lessons learned.

Aim: The ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) Program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center was established in November 2015 as the first program serving adult and pediatric population in a low-resource setting. The aim of the study is to describe the challenges faced during the establishment of the program and factors leading to its success.

Methods: The program establishment is described.