Diagnosing and reporting of central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Background. The diagnosis of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) is often controversial, and existing guidelines differ in important ways.Objective. To determine both the range of practices involved in obtaining blood culture samples and how central line–associated infections are diagnosed and to obtain members’ opinions regarding the process of designating bloodstream infections as publicly reportable CLABSIs.Design. Electronic and paper 11-question survey of infectious-diseases physician members of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Emerging Infections Network (IDSA EIN).Participants. All 1,364 IDSA EIN members were invited to participate.Results. 692 (51%) members responded; 52% of respondents with adult practices reported that more than half of the blood culture samples for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with central lines were drawn through existing lines. A sizable majority of respondents used time to positivity, differential time to positivity when paired blood cult...