Hospitals across England reduced the rate of serious bloodstream infections in intensive care units (ICUs) during a two-year program, research has shown.
More than 200 ICUs in England participated in the National Patient Safety Agency's Matching Michigan programme, which aimed to bring down infections linked to central venous catheters to the rate seen in a landmark program in Michigan. Reducing the number of infections by more than 60 percent, the English ICUs were able to equal the low rates seen in the US.
"This is a very impressive result," says professor Julian Bion of Birmingham University, who was clinical lead for the initiative. "No national data existed before this program. The work showed that ICUs were already performing well at the beginning, with half the infection rate seen at the start of the equivalent U.S. effort. By the end, two-thirds of the English ICUs were reporting no infections."
Intriguingly, while infection rates declined in ICUs that were in the program, they were also declining just as fast in ICUs that were waiting to join the program.
Now research conducted alongside the programme, led by professor Mary Dixon-Woods of the University of Leicester, and funded by the independent health improvement charity the Health Foundation, has been able to identify the reasons for this.
"ICUs were already responding to the evidence of best practice in this area and to policy pressures by the time the programme came along," she says. "Simply carrying out five key practices consistently can help control infections. Our research showed that many units had already improved their procedures, and several showed considerable ingenuity in making care safer for patients."
The five practices are: observing strict hand hygiene; cleaning the skin with the correct antiseptic; avoiding the groin as the route of insertion; using full barrier protection cap, gown, gloves and mask; and reviewing daily whether the patient still needs the catheter.
Though the program did boost efforts in some ICUs, the improvements that were occurring anyway meant that it was difficult for the program overall to show additional impact.
"The program cannot take all the credit for the improvements seen," says Bion. "But the outcome is that care is safer for patients, and NHS staff are to be congratulated for this. The program has provided the foundation for establishing a clinically-led national infection reduction system for ICUs in England."
Dixon-Woods adds, "It is very pleasing that we have been able to explain better why rates of infection are falling. The results of the research are good news for NHS staff, who may have felt demoralised in recent months. It shows that they have been following best practice as defined internationally, and are now getting the public recognition they deserve. More than that, it's very good news for NHS patients."
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.