ICU Wins Trinity Award for Prevention Excellence

Central Venous Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections.

Abbreviated to BSI, these infections occur in an estimated 250,000 cases in the US each year. In May 2004, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center observed an estimated 12.71% infection rate in patients with a Central Venous Catheter.

These infections are more than costly – they can be deadly. The estimated attributable mortality is 12 – 25% for each infection. This sobering statistic prompted SJRMC to do something.

That something was Keystone: ICU. The program aims to reduce BSIs, as well as ventilator-associated pneumonia, that occur in ICU patients. The ICU was provided with research and resources provided by the Michigan Health and Hospital Associate and the safety leaders at John Hopkins University.

But without the commitment of our SJRMC staff, this initiative would not have been so successful. So successful that an ICU patient has not developed a BSI since before February 2005 – almost 4 years ago.

BSIs at SJRMC Rates per 1000
May 2004 12.71%
January 2005 4%
February 2005 – January 20090%

“Staff buy in was essential to this initiative, said Marsha King, Chief Nursing Officer. “Our nursing staff was so enthusiastic about this project, and they remain enthusiastic today. They are saving lives with Keystone ICU.”