On the CUSP of prevention: AHRQ touts success of flexible approach

January 12th, 2015

An intervention model called the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) is dramatically reducing central line infections and can be used to prevent other threats to patient safety, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports.

In data released at a Sept 10 press conference, the agency and collaborating researchers said they have prevented more than 2,000 CLABSIs, saving some 500 lives and $34 million dollars. AHRQ also released a CUSP toolkit that can be used to plan and guide such projects in other health care facilities.

The national project involved hospital teams at more than 1,100 adult intensive care units in 44 states over a 4-year period. Preliminary findings indicate that hospitals participating in this project reduced the rate of CLABSIs nationally from 1.903 infections per 1,000 central line days to 1.137 infections per 1,000 line days, an overall reduction of 40%.

CUSP is a customizable program that helps hospital units address the foundation of how clinical teams care for patients. It combines clinical best practices with an understanding of the science of safety, improved safety culture, and an increased focus on teamwork.

For more on this story see the October 2012 issue of Hospital Infection Control & Prevention