Intravascular catheters are among the most frequently used medical devices in healthcare. Their widespread use—across millions of insertions, access procedures, and maintenance events—significantly increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections.  

The purpose of this presentation is to provide a framework that vascular access team (VAT) members can use to reduce the risk of post-insertion infections associated with vascular access devices (VADs). Recent U.S. and international infection prevention (IP) research highlights a growing number of emerging issues and recommended interventions relevant to vascular access teams (VATs). These include hand hygiene adherence, proper use of personal protective equipment, and environmental exposure risks such as contaminated sinks.  

New federal legislation on hospital-onset bacteremia has expanded prevention efforts to all VADs, not just central lines. Additional focus areas include defining core components of infection risk mitigation, gaining leadership support, and optimizing catheter placement to reduce infection. Advances in antimicrobial dressings, blood culture contamination reduction, and updated IP strategies for peripheral IVs are also emphasized.  

Finally, monitoring post-insertion care with attention to bundle compliance remains a key priority. A review of emerging IP issues will inform necessary updates to VAD clinical practice protocols. These revisions aim to enhance patient safety by strengthening infection prevention across assessment, insertion, and maintenance practices. 

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• Summarize the emerging IP issues that will influence VAD practice. 
• Summarize new peer-reviewed studies and expert guideline recommendations that impact VAD practice. 
• Reproduce a listing of emerging IP intervention considerations that reflect recent research findings. 

Contact Hours: 1

CRNI^® RUs: 2