Catheter manipulations and the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infection in neonatal intensive care unit patients

A prospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the influence of catheter manipulations on catheter associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) in neonates. Neonates admitted between 1 November 1993 and 31 October 1994 at the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital were included in the study. Seventeen episodes of CABSI occurred in 357 central catheters over a period of 3470 catheter-days, with a cumulative incidence of 4.7/100 catheters and an incidence density of 4.9/1000 catheter-days. Patient- and catheter-related risk factors independently associated with CABSI were: catheter hub colonization (odds ratio [OR] = 32.6, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 4.3-249), extremely low weight (< 1000 gram) at time of catheter insertion (OR=9.1, 95% CI=1.9-42.2). Catheter manupulations independently associated with CABSI were disinfection of the catheter hub (OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.1-1.3), blood sampling (OR=1.4, 95% CI=1.1-1.8), heparinization (OR=0.9, 95%, CI=0.8-1.0) and antisepsis of exit site (OR=0.9, 95% CI=0.8-1.0). This study indicates that certain manipulations (e.g. blood sampling through the central line) and disconnection of the central venous catheter, which necessitates disinfection of the catheter hub, increase the risk of CABSI, while other procedures (e.g. heparinization and exit site antisepsis), protect against CABSI in neonates. (C) 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.