Central line-associated bloodstream infection rate elevation: Attributable to National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance definition changes, ongoing opportunities for infection prevention, or both?

Abstract

Calendar year 2015 intensive care unit (ICU) central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) from 1 hospital were reviewed using 2014 CLABSI surveillance definitions to assess the relative impact of definition changes and infection control practices on CLABSI rates. Increased ICU primary CLABSI rates were found to be a result of both surveillance definition changes and infection control practices.

Keywords: Central line–associated bloodstream infections; Hospital-acquired infections; Surveillance.