Infection Prevention

Enrolling a New Facility in National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

• 5-Step Enrollment for Outpatient Dialysis Facilities - CMS QIP

• Sharing NHSN Data with Network 3

Annual NHSN Training

Each year, the CDC requires that one person from each facility complete the Annual NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Training. To receive credit for completing the required training, follow these steps:
 
Complete the Training

• Download the training guide for assistance

• Print out the certificate of completion for your records

BSI Reduction Resource Bundle

• CDC Core Interventions

• Audit Tools and Checklists

• Scrub the Hub Protocol

• Days Since Last BSI Poster

• Put Together the Pieces to Prevent Infections

• Conversation Starter to Prevent Infections in Dialysis Patients

• Quality Assurance and Performance (QAPI) Toolkit

• Quality Improvement RCA-PDSA Video Links

• BSI RCA Tool for CVC Patients

• BSI RCA Tool for AVF/AVG Patients

Additional Resources

• BSI/LTC Resources

  • Speak Up: Making Dialysis Safer for Patients (Video)

  • Engaging Patients in the Infection Prevention Conversation: Tips for Staff

• ESRD Forum Catheter Reduction Toolkit

• Vascular Access Planning Guide for Professionals

• Step-Specific Guidance

• Prevention and Containment of Candida auris in Hemodialysis Settings Webinar

   

CDC Staff Competencies

Assess staff upon hire and at least yearly in the following competencies. (Note: Not all categories will be applicable to all staff.)

• Gloving and Hand Hygiene (all staff) – includes recognition of appropriate situations for glove use/hand hygiene, proper use and removal of gloves, and proper hand hygiene technique.

• Catheter Dressing Change Technique – includes correct performance of hand hygiene, and use of gloves, and correct use of antiseptics (proper application and allow drying, etc.).

• Vascular Access Technique – includes correct performance of hand hygiene and use of gloves, catheter site and port/vascular access antisepsis, and aseptic technique.

• Safe Injection/Safe Medication Practices – includes proper technique for:

  • Parenteral medication preparation, handling, administration and storage (e.g., not in patient station, etc.)

  • Use of aseptic technique

  • Proper hand hygiene before preparing or administering medications or infusions

  • Proper cleansing of medication injection ports and medication vial diaphragms

  • Proper use and handling of single use vials and bags

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Areas for Patient Education

Patients with Catheters

• Hand hygiene

• General access care at home (e.g., bathing with a catheter)

• Signs and symptoms of infection

• How to respond if problems with catheter develop outside of the dialysis center

• Risks associated with catheters/importance of permanent access

• Basic infection control practices during catheter accessing process (as a means to engage patients)

Patients with Other Access Types

• Hand hygiene

• Washing the access site prior to treatment

• General access care at home (e.g., don’t scratch or pick at the site)

• Signs and symptoms of infection

• How to respond if problems with access develop outside of the dialysis center

• Basic infection control practices during cannulation process (as a means to engage patients)

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Catheter Reduction Resource Toolkit

The FFCL Change Package includes 13 Change Concepts that provide a roadmap for implementation of the K/DOQI vascular access recommendations. Take a look at the overview.
Lifeline for a Lifetime

Patient Resources

• Questions or Concerns about Permanent Access? Let's Talk!

• Patient Guide for Planning for a Vascular Access

  • There is a simple checklist in this manual that will help engage your patients to track progress through the steps toward catheter freedom. 

  • Provide a copy of “My Access Plan / My Access Plan (SPANISH)”  to call catheter patients being referred for evaluation and placement of a permanent access. 

• Patient Guide for Planning for a Vascular Access (Spanish)

• Vascular Access Monitoring