Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan:119:149-154.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.09.020. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Increase in the frequency of catheter-related bloodstream infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: a plea for control

M J Pérez-Granda  1 , C S Carrillo  2 , P M Rabadán  2 , M Valerio  2 , M Olmedo  2 , P Muñoz  3 , E Bouza  3
Affiliations

Increase in the frequency of catheter-related bloodstream infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: a plea for control

M J Pérez-Granda et al. J Hosp Infect. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Background: The incidence of nosocomial infections including ventilator-associated pneumonia and bacteraemia has been described during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) is very limited.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the evolution of CR-BSIs in a large hospital.

Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing the incidence, aetiology and outcome of CR-BSIs during the months of March to May 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020 (during the pandemic).

Findings: The number of patients with one or more CR-BSIs in 2019 and 2020 were 23 and 58, respectively (1.89 vs 5.53/1000 admissions); P<0.001. Median time from catheter implantation to demonstration of CR-BSI was 27.5 days (range 11.75-126.00 days) in the 2019 cases and 16.0 days (range 11.00-23.50 days) in the 2020 population (P=0.032).

Conclusions: A dramatic increase of CR-BSIs was found during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reinforcement of classic and new preventive measures is necessary.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 secondary infections; Catheter-related bloodstream infections; Infection control; Nosocomial infections.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Incidence rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs)/1000 admissions during the study periods.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Aetiology of episodes of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI). Percentages of micro-organisms causing CR-BSI in 2019 and 2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Stevens V., Geiger K., Concannon C., Nelson R.E., Brown J., Dumyati G. Inpatient costs, mortality and 30-day re-admission in patients with central-line-associated bloodstream infections. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014;20:O318–O324. - PubMed
    1. Ferrer C., Almirante B. Venous catheter-related infections. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2014;32:115–124. - PubMed
    1. Rosenthal V.D., Bat-Erdene I., Gupta D., Belkebir S., Rajhans P., Zand F., et al. International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 45 countries for 2012-2017: Device-associated module. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48:423–432. - PubMed
    1. Pittiruti M., Pinelli F. Recommendations for the use of vascular access in the COVID-19 patients: an Italian perspective. Crit Care. 2020;24:269. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Timsit J.F., Baleine J., Bernard L., Calvino-Gunther S., Darmon M., Dellamonica J., et al. Expert consensus-based clinical practice guidelines management of intravascular catheters in the intensive care unit. Ann Intensive Care. 2020;10:118. - PMC - PubMed