Central and peripheral line-associated bloodstream infections in Victorian neonatal intensive care units: findings from a comprehensive Victorian surveillance network, 2008-2024
- Author(s)
- Liu, ZR; Bull, AL; Phuong, LK; Malloy, MJ; Friedman, ND; Worth, LJ;
- Journal Title
- Journal of Hospital Infection
- Publication Type
- Online publication before print
- Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Neonates face a high risk of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Effective surveillance is crucial for safe neonatal care and infection prevention. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate infection trends, pathogen distribution, and antimicrobial resistance patterns in central and peripheral line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs and PLABSIs) in Victorian Level 6 neonatal intensive care units between July 1(st), 2008, and June 30(th), 2024. METHODS: Data were collected by the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System Coordinating Centre using CDC National Healthcare Safety Network guidelines. A retrospective data analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted to examine infection epidemiology. FINDINGS: Overall, 581 neonates developed CLABSIs or PLABSIs, corresponding to a mean CLABSI rate of 2.26 per 1,000 central line-days and a mean PLABSI rate of 0.60 per 1,000 peripheral line-days. The median age at diagnosis of all events was 16 days (IQR 9-35 days). No trends were observed in CLASBI or PLABSI rates over the study period. However, an increasing trend in CLABSI rates (IRR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07, p = 0.043) and a decreasing trend in PLABSI rates (IRR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.99, p = 0.021) were noted among neonates with birth weight ≤750g. The most frequently reported organism was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, responsible for 44.0% of CLABSIs and 39.5% of PLABSIs. CONCLUSION: NICUs in Victoria have maintained low CLABSI and PLABSI rates over the study period. Higher infection rates in low-birth-weight neonates emphasize the need for targeted infection prevention strategies for this vulnerable population.
- Keywords
- Bloodstream infection (BSI); Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI); Epidemiology; Healthcare-associated infection (HAI); Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); Peripheral line-associated bloodstream infection (PLABSI); Surveillance
- Department(s)
- Infectious Diseases
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.009
- Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.009- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
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Creation Date: 2025-06-02 07:40:48
Last Modified: 2025-06-02 07:41:12