Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABs) Collaborative

Since the spring of 2005, the United Hospital Fund has been working with the Greater New York Hospital Association on eliminating central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABs) in hospital intensive care units (ICUs). The CLABs Collaborative promotes the use of specific proven infection control practices and procedures in the ICU to improve quality of care and ensure patient safety. Forty-seven hospitals throughout the Greater New York region are participating in the CLABs Collaborative, with the primary goal of reducing these often life-threatening infections.

  March 2009 results from the CLABs Collaborative showed that CLAB rates in participating hospitals declined by more than 70%--and that the decline was sustained over time since the initiative began in 2005. These results have clearly demonstrated that infections can be eliminated through leadership, support, teamwork, communication, systematic adoption of evidence-based practices, and basic hand hygiene.

Forty-seven hospitals have participated in this collaborative.

Project Contact: Hillary Jalon