AN AUDIT PROGRAM FOR CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

Central venous catheters (CVC) are commonly associated with both local ized and systemic infection. This paper describes an audit programme w hich was designed to review clinical practice associated with the inse rtion and subsequent care of CVC and their possible relationship to th e development of infection. The programme was produced by a joint work ing group of the Hospital Infection Society and the Research Unit of t he Royal College of Physicians and is subdivided into an audit of hosp ital practices and patient management associated with the use of CVC. It consists of a number of questions designed to evaluate all areas of CVC use, including the assessment of the incidence of associated loca l and systemic infection. Use of the questionnaire should allow polici es for CVC insertion and care to be reviewed thereby facilitating impr ovements, which may in turn reduce the incidence of infection associat ed with CVC.