A central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a serious infection that occurs when germs enter the bloodstream through a catheter (tube) that healthcare providers often place in a large vein in the neck, chest, or groin to give medication or fluids or to collect blood for medical tests. This page contains CLABSI prevention resources and education for both healthcare professionals and consumers.
The following links are APIC resources on CLABSI prevention for healthcare professionals.
Implementation guides and tools
- Guide to Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections—Implementation Guide
- Strategies to Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update—Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (APIC collaborated with SHEA and other organizations on development of this resource)
- APIC Text (subscription required)
Education & training
APIC offers a comprehensive collection of clinical education and professional development programs. The following resources are educational opportunities related to CLABSI. Visit the Education & Certification page for more educational opportunities.
- How to Prepare for External Audit and Validation of Your CLABSI Data - Getting it Right—APIC Webinar
- Steps to Reducing Infection Risk: A Multi-Hospital System Approach to HAI Reduction—APIC Webinar
- Visit the APIC 2016 Annual Conference website to search for education on CLABSI
- Access the APIC 2015 Conference Proceedings for sessions on CLABSI
- Vital Signs: Protect Patients from Antibiotic Resistance, March 2016—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC's Antibiotic Resistance Patient Safety Atlas—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- HICPAC Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections, 2011—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- HICPAC Checklist for Prevention of Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections, 2011—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) in Non-Intensive Care Unit (non-ICU) Settings Toolkit—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- NHSN: Surveillance for Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI)—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CLABSI Event: Device-Associated Module—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CLABSI Toolkit and Monograph—The Joint Commission
- Central Line Insertion Checklist—Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- How-To Guide: Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections—Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Multistate Point-Prevalence Survey of Health Care–Associated Infections—The New England Journal of Medicine
- On the CUSP: STOP BSI—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The following links are APIC and external resources on CLABSI for consumers.
- What is an HAI?—Monthly alert for consumers
- Become familiar with healthcare-associated infections—APIC: Infection Prevention and You
- Frequently Asked Questions about Catheters—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Frequently Asked Questions: Central line-associated bloodstream infections—Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection Prevention—Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
- Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections: Resources for Patients and Healthcare Providers—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention