The Golden Touch-Reducing the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteraemia (SAB) in Haemodialysis Patients

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) resulting from central Vascular Access Devices is a serious, often preventable complication. Health care associated (HCA) SAB is an infection which is common but often avoidable. A strategic plan was implemented as part of quality improvement to reduce the number of SAB.

Objective: To report the quality improvement project outcome in the dialysis unit on decreasing the Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) in haemodialysis patients.

Design: This is a quality improvement project.

Participants: Participants were the South Western Sydney Local Health District dialysis units staff including the clinicians, haemodialysis patients and relatives.

Approach: An audit was conducted with the used of an auditing tool from the Centers for Disease Control, United State of America, specific to auditing cannulation and decannulation of haemodialysis patients. Followed by strategic plan and the intent was to ensure that infection prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility: clinicians, ancillary staff, patients, and relatives.

Results: A total of 45 procedures (which included accessing and de-accessing central Vascular Access Devices) were audited on compliance with aseptic non-touch technique.

Conclusion: This quality improvement project has proven that an infection prevention strategy implemented was successful and that the general principles around best practice infection prevention and control could be utilised in other specialty areas.

Keywords: (3-5 keywords): Chronic kidney disease, Haemodialysis, Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.