OBJECTIVES:

• Define Central Line Bundle
• Provide Detailed Review of the Central Line Bundle Procedures
• Describe Central Line Insertion Procedure (CLIP) Checklist

Based on recommendations established by the CDC, the IHI has issued the Central Line Bundle. The Central Line Bundle is a group of best practices that individually improve care. When applied together, the best practices result in substantially greater improvement of care and a reduction in the infection rate of intravascular catheters (7).

The components of the Central Line Bundle include:

• Hand Hygiene
• Maximal Barrier Precautions During Insertion
• Use of Chlorhexidine as a Skin Antisepsis
• Optimal Catheter Site Selection with Avoidance of the Femoral Vein for Central Venous Access in Adult Patients
• Daily Review of Line Necessity with Prompt Removal of Unnecessary Lines

A review of each of these components is provided to demonstrate how important each step is in reducing infection rates of central vascular access devices.