Simple strategies to reduce healthcare associated infections in the neonatal intensive care unit: line, tube, and hand hygiene

Abstract

This article describes strategies to prevent 2 important healthcare associated infections in the neonatal intensive care unit: central line-associated bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Hand hygiene is discussed as the cornerstone for prevention of all healthcare associated infections. Specific recommendations for education and training of health care personnel who insert and maintain central venous catheters and urinary tract catheters are made and best practices for insertion and maintenance of these catheters are discussed. Throughout this article, the emphasis is on prevention of these high morbidity and mortality healthcare associated infections.