Guidelines for the prevention of bloodstream infections and other infections associated with the use of intravascular catheters: part 2: central venous catheters

Overview

These WHO guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and other infections associated with the use of central venous catheters (CVCs) across health care settings. They address a major public health issue, as catheter-associated infections contribute significantly to patient morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays and increased health care costs worldwide. Developed following WHO guideline procedures and based on systematic reviews of scientific evidence, the document presents recommendations and good practice statements covering all stages of CVC management, including pre-insertion, insertion, maintenance, access, replacement and removal, as well as site selection and additional preventive measures. The guidelines emphasize key interventions such as aseptic technique, hand hygiene, education and training of health care workers, use of care bundles, and surveillance systems. They also highlight the importance of a multimodal improvement strategy to support implementation and behavioural change. Intended for clinicians, infection prevention and control professionals and health system stakeholders, the guidelines aim to provide a practical framework to standardize practices, reduce variability in care, and minimize the risk of catheter-associated infections globally.