Abstract
Central vascular catheters are an integral part of caring for a pediatric intensive care patient, providing hemodynamic monitoring capabilities, reliable vascular access for hydration, medication administration, and blood sampling. However, central vascular catheters put the patient at risk for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). In 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services added CLABSI to the list of "never events." This article discusses the measures one hospital implemented to reduce the CLABSI rate, and the research that supports this evidence-based practice.