Surveillance for central-line-associated bloodstream infections: Accuracy of different sampling strategies.

2018

1-6

2018 Aug 29

1559-6834

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Active daily surveillance of central-line days (CLDs) in the assessment of rates of central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) is time-consuming and burdensome for healthcare workers. Sampling of denominator data is a method that could reduce the time necessary to conduct active surveillance.</p>

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To evaluate the accuracy of various sampling strategies in the estimation of CLABSI rates in adult and pediatric units in Greece.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Daily denominator data were collected across Greece for 6 consecutive months in 33 units: 11 adult units, 4 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), 12 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and 6 pediatric oncology units. Overall, 32 samples were evaluated using the following strategies: (1) 1 fixed day per week, (2) 2 fixed days per week, and (3) 1 fixed week per month. The CLDs for each month were estimated as follows: (number of sample CLDs/number of sampled days) × 30. The estimated CLDs were used to calculate CLABSI rates. The accuracy of the estimated CLABSI rates was assessed by calculating the percentage error (PE): [(observed CLABSI rates - estimated CLABSI rates)/observed CLABSI rates].</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Compared to other strategies, sampling over 2 fixed days per week provided the most accurate estimates of CLABSI rates for all types of units. Percentage of estimated CLABSI rates with PE ≤±5% using the strategy of 2 fixed days per week ranged between 74.6% and 88.7% in NICUs. This range was 79.4%-94.1% in pediatric onology units, 62.5%-91.7% in PICUs, and 80.3%-92.4% in adult units. Further evaluation with intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots indicated that the estimated CLABSI rates were reliable.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Sampling over 2 fixed days per week provides a valid alternative to daily collection of CLABSI denominator data. Adoption of such a monitoring method could be an important step toward better and less burdensome infection control and prevention.</p>

10.1017/ice.2018.187

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

30156182

Establishing Nationally Representative Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Surveillance Data in Paediatric Patients in Greece.

2019

53-59

2019 Jan

1532-2939

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and with excess costs. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are the most common HAI in neonates and children.</p>

<p><strong>AIM: </strong>The broad objective of this study was to establish national benchmark data around rates of CLABSI in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units (NICUs and PICUs) and paediatric oncology units (ONCs).</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Active surveillance for CLABSI was conducted from June 2016 to February 2017. A collaborative of 14 NICUs, 4 PICUs, and 6 ONCs participated in the program. Surveillance definitions of central line (CL), central line utilization (CLU) ratio, CLABSI event, and CLABSI rate were based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2014 National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. Medical records were assessed daily for calculating CL days, patient days, and susceptibility of isolated organisms.</p>

<p><strong>FINDINGS: </strong>A total of 111 CLABSI episodes were recorded. The overall mean CLABSI rate was 4.41 infections per 1000 CL days, and the CLU ratio was 0.31. CLABSI rates were 6.02 in NICUs, 6.09 in PICUs, and 2.78 per 1000 CL days in ONCs. A total of 123 pathogens were isolated. The most common pathogens were Enterobacteriaceae (36%), followed by Gram-positive cocci (29%), non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (16%), and fungi (16%). Overall, 37% of Gram-negative pathogens were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and 37% to carbapenems.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Nationally representative CLABSI rates were determined for paediatric patients. These data could be used to benchmark and serve as baseline data for the design and evaluation of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship interventions.</p>

10.1016/j.jhin.2018.07.032

J. Hosp. Infect.

30059747