Central line-associated bloodstream infection in neonatal intensive care units.

Objective. Describe the epidemiology of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) participating in a standardized and mandatory CLABSI surveillance program.Design. Retrospective cohort.Setting. We included patients admitted (April 2007–March 2011) to 7 level II/III NICUs who developed a CLABSI (as defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network).Methods. CLABSIs/1,000 central line–days and device utilization ratio were calculated; χ2 test, Student t test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Poisson regression were used.Results. Overall, 191 patients had 202 CLABSI episodes for a pooled mean rate of 4.0 CLABSIs/1,000 central line–days and a device utilization ratio of 0.20. Annual pooled mean CLABSI rates increased from 3.6 in 2007–2008 to 5.1 CLABSIs/1,000 central line–days in 2010–2011 (). The all-cause 30-day case fatality proportion was 8.9% () and occurred a median of 8 days after CLABSI. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was identified in 112 (50.5%) cases. S...