How to prevent central line infections
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Central line infections are serious and can be fatal. Careful daily care prevents most of them.
Step by step
Clean your hands
Clean hands before touching the line, the dressing or the tubing. [1]
Scrub the hub
Scrub the needleless connector with alcohol or chlorhexidine for several seconds and let it dry before each access. [2]
Keep the dressing intact
Change a transparent dressing every 7 days, or sooner if wet, loose or soiled. [3]
Use sterile technique
Wear a mask and sterile gloves for dressing changes and use chlorhexidine skin prep. [3]
Change tubing on time
Replace tubing and connectors on your facility's schedule. [3]
Check the site
Look for redness, swelling, drainage or fever each shift. [3]
Review the need daily
Remove the line as soon as it is no longer needed. [2]
Common errors
- Not scrubbing the hub before access.
- Leaving a loose dressing.
- Keeping a line that is no longer needed.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- CDC, Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
- CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007) and PPE sequence
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
Facts and steps follow CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007) and PPE sequence. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.