Critically evaluate the influences on infection control and prevention practices relating to the care of invasive devices Essay

Words: 2908
Pages: 12

Title
Critically evaluate the influences on infection control and prevention practices relating to the care of invasive devices (choose either Intra-venous or Urinary Catheters). You need to consider:
The pathogenesis of the most likely micro-organism involved and how infections may occur.
All infection prevention and control measures that are involved in managing and preventing these infections.
The organisational issues underpinning infection prevention and control.

Introduction Healthcare-associated infections from invasive medical devices are linked to high morbidity, mortality, and costs worldwide. Especially in central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and
…show more content…
Also for the device factors such as the surface properties of the device material, all play a role. The factor that probably carries the most weight in terms of whether an intravascular device infection arises is the virulence properties of the colonizing organisms. However, the factors that we as health care providers may influence the most are the properties of the device itself.
Risk factors
Risk factors can separate into 3 categories which include patient-related risk factors, device-related risk factors, and risk factors pertaining to catheter insertion and care.
According to Goede & Coopersmith (2009), patient-related risk factors such as immunosuppression or extremes of age are not generally subject to modification. Furthermore, patient located in ICU setting have a higher infection rate than those in the general ward in-patient or out-patient setting. It may be explained by differing disease processes, severity of illness, and potentially duration of CVC placement can affect the infection rate of CLABSIs.
Device-related risk factors such as length of CVC duration, type of catheter such as number of lumens, the location of the catheter, number of use per day. According to Yeung, May & Hughes (cited in Barbara & Rabih, 2004), the trials have suggested that multi-lumen catheters are associated with a higher risk of infection than single-lumen catheters because more