A REAPPRAISAL OF INFECTION CONTROL IN THE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB; IMPACT ON CARDIAC DEVICE INFECTIONS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the impact of Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) infection
control guidelines on cardiac device infection rates
Study Design: Quasi experimental
Place and duration of study: This study was conducted at AFIC/NIHD from June 2011 to December 2011.
Methodology: Data for cardiac device infection rates was collected pre- and post-intervention. Historical
controls were taken from Jan 2011 to May 2011. Infection control measures in the cardiac catheterization lab
where these devices are implanted were implemented as per Society for Cardiac Angiography and
Interventions (SCAI) infection control guidelines for the cardiac catheterization laboratory as the intervention.
Results: From Jan 2011 to May 2011 out of total one hundred and thirty-five (n= 135) patients who
underwent cardiac device implantation; nine (n=9) patients developed culture proven pocket infections with
an overall infection rate of 12.1%. Post intervention; from June 2011 to December 2011, there were a total of
one hundred and forty-six (n=146) cardiac device implants. During this period there was only one (n=1)
pacemaker pocket infection with an overall infection rate of 1.46%. The decline in cardiac device infection rate
was statistically significant (p=008.)
Conclusion: After implementation of targeted infection control guidelines in the cardiac catheterization lab
there was a significant decline in cardiac device infection rates.