Attributable Mortality for Pediatric and Neonatal Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Greece.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Hospital epidemiology

Background:

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections in pediatric populations.
• These infections significantly impact patient outcomes, including mortality.
• Estimating attributable mortality is essential for understanding the true burden of CLABSIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the attributable mortality associated with CLABSIs in pediatric and neonatal patients in Greece.
• To quantify the increased risk of death in patients with CLABSIs compared to those without.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted in two tertiary pediatric hospitals in Greece.
• Eligible patients included inpatients with central lines in NICUs, PICUs, hematology/oncology, and bone marrow transplantation units from June 2012 to June 2015.
• Patients with confirmed CLABSI were matched 1:1 to non-CLABSI patients based on hospital, unit, and prior length of stay.

Main Results:

• The overall attributable mortality for CLABSIs was 13.8%.
• Patients with CLABSI had a significantly higher mortality rate (23.4%) compared to non-CLABSI patients (9.6%).
• CLABSI patients were four times more likely to die (OR = 4.29).

Conclusions:

• CLABSIs contribute to increased mortality rates in Greek pediatric patients.
• The findings underscore the critical need for effective infection prevention strategies in healthcare settings.
• Reducing CLABSIs is essential for improving survival and outcomes in vulnerable pediatric populations.