Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection: Not Just an Intensive Care Unit Problem

Abstract

Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is an ongoing issue in health care, causing increased mortality and billions of dollars in healthcare costs. The majority of research and implementation has been done in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Although thousands of non-ICU patients are known to have CLABSI, adequate research has not been conducted in this population. This article explores the current literature on CLABSI and recommends additional research to focus on the non-ICU population and setting.