The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response on central-line–associated bloodstream infections and blood culture contamination rates at a tertiary-care center in the Greater Detroit area

Abstract

A comparative retrospective study to quantify the impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patient safety. We found a statistically significant increase in central line-associated blood stream infections and blood culture contamination rates during the pandemic. Increased length of stay and mortality was also observed during COVID-19.

Infection preventionists’ experiences during the first nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from focus groups conducted with Association of Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) members

“… 18 Another study found that both CLABSI and blood culture contamination rates increased during the pandemic. 19 The IPs in this study noted several factors they believed contributed to the increase in HAIs, including frequently changing protocols, staff turnover, lack of resources for training new staff, and visitor restrictions. Some IPs also described an increased placement of femoral central lines, which could increase risk for CLABSI.…”

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

“…The most J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f frequent microorganisms, as expected, were Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24 . The infections frequently involved multidrug-resistant microorganisms [25][26][27][28][29] Surprisingly, and despite overuse of antibiotics during the pandemic, preliminary data suggest that the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection decreased in COVID cases [30][31][32][33] .…”

“…Our series includes 81 patients with proven CR-BSIs and compared a similar time period in 2019 and 2020, we found that the frequency of CR-BSI increased 3-fold during the COVID period. Very recently, Le Rose et al 30 reported an increase in the incidence of vascular catheter-related infections during the pandemic. The authors analyzed a series of bloodstream infections, with no clear portal of entry, that they related with central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).…”

“…Patients who developed CLABSI in the pre-COVID-19 cohort had a median length of stay of 19 days compared with patients in the COVID-19 cohort, who had a median length of stay of 27 days (p=0.12) 30 . However, in our study despite a longer ICU stay, episodes of CR-BSI occurred earlier after catheter insertion than in 2019.…”

“…Other authors, analyzing the etiology of CLABSI in a COVID-19 cohort, reported that 53.3% were caused by Gram positive bacteria, followed by 26.7 % fungal and 20% Gram negative bacteria 30 .…”