Incidence and risk factors of central venous line associated bloodstream infections in the paediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital: A prospective study

Introduction: Hospital acquired infections have caused high morbidity and mortality, of which central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) account for high costs and prolonged hospital stay. As per CDC guidelines CLABSI is defined as “a laboratory confirmed blood stream infection in a patient who had a central line within the 48 hours before the development of the blood stream infection and that is not related to an infection at another site”. Objectives: To determine the incidence of CLABSI in the PICU and the risk factors associated with it. Material and methods: Among 72 children with central venous catheters in the PICU, with new onset sepsis, two sets of blood samples, one percutaneously and other from catheter hub were collected. The samples were cultured by Bactec method. Catheter tips were sent for culture at the time of removal. Data collection was done and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: 4 children (5.6%) had CLABSI. The incidence density of CLABSI was 6.6 per 1000 central line days. Of the 4 CLABSIs, 2 cases grew Candida and 1 each grew Staphylococcus aureus and E coli. The mean duration of hospital stay in CLABSI and no CLABSI cases was 15.25+7.2 and 11.78+3.48 days respectively. The length of hospital stay was found to be statistically significant with the incidence of CLABSI. Conclusion: The incidence density of CLABSI was 6.6 per 1000 central line days. The duration of hospital stay was found to have statistically significant association with CLABSI incidence.