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Central- and peripheral-line-associated bloodstream infections in Victorian neonatal intensive care units: findings from a comprehensive Victorian surveillance network, 2008–2024

Year: 2025

Type: article

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: June 2024. METHODS: Data were collected by the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System Coordinating Centre using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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 1000 central-line-days and a mean PLABSI rate of 0.60 per 1000 peripheral-line-days. The median age at diagnosis of all events was 16 days (interquartile range 9-35 days). No trends were observed in CLASBI or PLABSI rates over the study period. However, an increasing trend in CLABSI rates [incidence risk ratio (IRR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (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 ≤750 g. The most frequently reported organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci, responsible for 44.0% of CLABSIs and 39.5% of PLABSIs. CONCLUSION: Neonatal intensive care units in Victoria maintained low CLABSI and PLABSI rates over the study period. Higher infection rates in low-birthweight neonates emphasize the need for targeted infection prevention strategies for this vulnerable population.

Source: Journal of Hospital Infection

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.009

Authors: Z.R. Liu, A.L. Bull, L.K. Phuong, M.J. Malloy, N.D. Friedman, L.J. Worth