In 2008, our hospital, Saint Francis Heart Center, instituted a policy of zero tolerance for bloodstream infections associated with central venous catheters (or as we call them, central line–associated bloodstream [CLAB] infections).

Our hospital, a Magnet-designated institution, is a 319-bed facility known on Long Island and in surrounding areas as “The Heart Center.” We treat and manage not only patients with cardiac conditions but also patients who require medical and surgical care. For 4 years in a row, Saint Francis has been voted one of the nation’s best hospitals by US News and World Report. We are also a New York State–designated stroke center. The hospital has 4 intensive care units (ICUs): the medical ICU (MICU), the surgical ICU, the cardiothoracic ICU, and the MICU II, which is where we work. Each unit has 20 beds, including 2 negative-pressure rooms that enable us to care for patients with airborne illnesses....

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