Our study team evaluated the comparative epidemiology of hospital-onset bloodstream infection (HOBSI) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in this retrospective observational study of HOBSI and CLABSI across a three-hospital healthcare system from 01/01/2017 to 12/31/2021.
HOBSIs were identified as any non-commensal positive blood culture event on or after hospital day 3. CLABSIs were identified based on National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. We performed a time-series analysis to assess comparative temporal trends among HOBSI and CLABSI incidence. Using univariable and multivariable regression analyses, we compared demographics, risk factors, and outcomes between non-CLABSI HOBSI and CLABSI, as HOBSI and CLABSI are not exclusive entities.
HOBSI incidence increased over the study period without a concurrent increase in CLABSI in our study population. Furthermore, risk factor and outcome profiles varied between CLABSI and non-CLABSI HOBSI, which suggest that these metrics differ in important ways worth considering if HOBSI is adopted as a quality metric.
Read the full article in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.