DHHS halts quality improvement study - Policy may hamper tests of methods to improve care

The hospital-acquired bloodstream infections can be prevented by keeping checklists for physicians. The five major steps to be followed by the surgeons or physicians are hand washing, using full barrier precautions during insertion of venous catheters, cleansing the patient's skin with chlorhexidine, avoiding the femoral site for catheter insertion, and removing unnecessary catheters. The infection rates in the hospital can be decreased by following these safety precautions.