An Ounce of Prevention: Why Investing in Better CVC Securement Pays Off

In today’s hospitals, every penny counts, and the price of complications associated with catheter failures can be overwhelming. The price tag for a single central line infection can be staggering, not to mention the hidden costs of extended ICU stays, additional treatments, and the strain on already busy clinical teams.

For healthcare administrators and frontline staff alike, finding practical ways to prevent these expensive catheter failures is more important than ever. That’s why the results of the STICKY trial are so compelling: by using Mastisol®, a medical liquid adhesive, to secure central venous catheter (CVC) dressings, hospitals saw a dramatic reduction in jugular venous catheter dressing failures—and with it, a real opportunity to save both money and resources, all while improving patient care.

The groundbreaking, multisite study found using Mastisol slashed premature dressing failure from 50% to just 28%. Fewer failures mean fewer dressing changes, less risk of infection, and real savings for hospitals already stretched thin. AVATAR researchers Nicole Marsh, RN, PhD, and Amanda Corley, RN, PhD recall, “at the start of the trial, we were unsure whether the additional cost of Mastisol would be offset by the number of avoided dressing changes. But we concluded that Mastisol ‘paid for itself’ by reducing the number of dressings required per patient and the additional nursing time associated with unnecessary dressing changes.”

Marsh and Corley go on to explain, “we found a cost saving of $11 per patient from using Mastisol, including the cost of materials to perform extra dressing changes as well as staff time associated with this. In our health service which admits approximately 5,000 patients to ICU each year—with 60% requiring one or more CVCs—the estimated cost savings per annum would be more than AUD $33,000.”

Achieving the cost savings with Mastisol did not require a major overhaul of existing protocols or expensive new technology. Instead, it was a simple addition to the dressing process that quickly paid for itself—both in terms of direct costs and the time saved by nursing staff. Marsh and Corley concluded that “ultimately, these savings make it easier to have conversations with local stakeholders about the additional cost of Mastisol against the long-term saving from reduced dressing failure. Sometimes, the smartest investment is the one that prevents problems before they start.”

Set up a Point Prevalence Assessment with us to evaluate current dressing performance and explore how Mastisol could help. We’ll also provide a custom cost analysis to highlight potential savings along with improved outcomes. Contact us today to get started!!