Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection in Adult Intensive Care Unit Population—Changes in Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Addition of New Technologies

Abstract

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) have an increased risk of Central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) due to the prevalence of invasive procedures, devices, immunosuppression, comorbidity, frailty, and elderly patients. We have seen a successful reduction in Central line associated bloodstream infection related the past decade. In spite of this, Intensive care unit-Catheter related bloodstream infections remain high. The emergence of new pathogens further complicates treatment and threatens patient outcomes in this context. In addition, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic served as a reminder that an emerging pathogen poses a challenge for adjusting prevention measures regarding both the risk of exposure to caregivers and maintaining a high level of care. ICU nurses play an important role in the prevention and management of CLABSI as they are involved in basic hygienic care, quality improvement initiatives, microbiological sampling, and aspects of antimicrobial stewardship. Microbiological techniques that are more sensitive and our increased knowledge of the interactions between critically ill patients and their microbiota are forcing us to rethink how we define CLABSIs and how we can diagnose, treat, and prevent them in the ICU. The objective of this multidisciplinary expert review, focused on the ICU setting, is to summarize the recently observed occurrence of CLABSI in ICU, to consider the role of modern microbiological techniques in their diagnosis, to examine clinical and epidemiological definitions, and to redefine several controversial preventive measures including antimicrobial-impregnated catheters, chlorhexidine-gluconate impregnated sponge, and catheter dressings.