Single-center study of interrater agreement in the identification of central line-associated bloodstream infection.

BACKGROUND: Interrater reliability of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) determination has not been well studied. The present study evaluated interrater reliability between infection preventionists (IPs) for CLABSI- and other bloodstream infection (BSI)-related factors and examined whether any nurse characteristics are associated with interrater reliability. METHODS: A total of 165 blood cultures were reviewed by 2 IPs assigned at random. Reliability outcomes were CLABSI, infection type (hospital- or community-acquired), presence of a central line, primary versus secondary BSI, secondary source of BSI, and IP-determined source of BSI (primary, secondary, or indeterminate). Kappa coefficients were calculated. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between IP characteristics and agreement on diagnosis of CLABSI. RESULTS: CLABSI agreement was moderate in IP pairs (κ = 0.562 ± 0.080) and not associated with IP characteristics. After controlling for IP characteristics associated with secondary outcomes, agreement regarding secondary source was more likely in pairs with a larger absolute difference in years employed (P = .013), and agreement regarding infection source was more likely in pairs with larger differences in years employed and duration of certification (P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of IP agreement regarding CLABSI was moderate and not associated with IP characteristics, reflecting adequate training. Education and reassessment of definitions may promote higher rates of agreement between IPs.

Defining incidence, risk factors, and impact on survival of central line-associated blood stream infections following hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) commonly complicate the care of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT). We developed a modified CLABSI (MCLABSI) definition that attempts to exclude pathogens usually acquired because of disruption of mucosal barriers during the vulnerable neutropenic period following HCT that are generally included under the original definition (OCLABSI). We conducted a retrospective study of all AML and MDS patients undergoing HCT between August 2009 and December 2011 at the Cleveland Clinic (N = 73), identifying both OCLABSI and MCLABSI incidence. The median age at transplantation was 52 years (range, 16 to 70); 34 had a high (≥3) HCT comorbidity index (HCT-CI); 34 received bone marrow (BM), 24 received peripheral stem cells (PSC), and 15 received umbilical cord blood cells (UCB). Among these 73 patients, 23 (31.5%) developed OCLABSI, of whom 16 (69.6%) died, and 8 (11%) developed MCLABSI, of whom 7 (87.5%) died. OCLABSI was diagnosed a median of 9 days from HCT: 5 days (range, 2 to 12) for UCB and 78 days (range, 7 to 211) for BM/PSC (P < .001). MCLABSI occurred a median of 12 days from HCT, with similar earlier UCB and later BM/PSC diagnosis (P = .030). Risk factors for OCLABSI in univariate analysis included CBC (P < .001), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatch (P = .005), low CD34(+) count (P = .007), low total nucleated cell dose (P = .016), and non-Caucasian race (P = .017). Risk factors for OCLABSI in multivariable analysis were UCB (P < .001) and high HCT-CI (P = .002). There was a significant increase in mortality for both OCLABSI (hazard ratio, 7.14; CI, 3.31 to 15.37; P < .001) and MCLABSI (hazard ratio, 6.44; CI, 2.28 to 18.18; P < .001). CLABSI is common and associated with high mortality in AML and MDS patients undergoing HCT, especially in UCB recipients and those with high HCT-CI. We propose the MCLABSI definition to replace the OCLABSI definition, given its greater precision for identifying preventable infection in HCT patients.

Development of a modified surveillance definition of central line-associated bloodstream infections for patients with hematologic malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a modified surveillance definition of central line-associated bloodstream infection (mCLABSI) specific for our population of patients with hematologic malignancies to better support ongoing improvement efforts at our hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: Hematologic malignancies population in a 1,200-bed tertiary care hospital on a 22-bed bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit and a 22-bed leukemia unit. METHODS: An mCLABSI definition was developed, and pathogens and rates were compared against those determined using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definition. RESULTS: By the NHSN definition the CLABSI rate on the BMT unit was 6.0 per 1,000 central line-days, and by the mCLABSI definition the rate was 2.0 per 1,000 line-days ([Formula: see text]). On the leukemia unit, the NHSN CLABSI rate was 14.4 per 1,000 line-days, and the mCLABSI rate was 8.2 per 1,000 line-days ([Formula: see text]). The top 3 CLABSI pathogens by the NHSN definition were Enterococcus species, Klebsiella species, and Escherichia coli. The top 3 CLABSI pathogens by the mCLABSI definition were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The difference in the incidence of CONS as a cause of CLABSI under the 2 definitions was statistically significant ([Formula: see text]). CONCLUSIONS: A modified surveillance definition of CLABSI was associated with an increase in the identification of staphylococci as the cause of CLABSIs, as opposed to enteric pathogens, and a decrease in CLABSI rates.