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New Delhi: A comprehensive study led by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has revealed that bloodstream infections caused by catheter use in intensive care units (ICUs) are widespread across Indian hospitals. These infections, known as Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), are often caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes, posing significant challenges to patient care and hospital resources.
According to the research published in The Lancet Global Health journal, there are approximately nine bloodstream infection events for every 1,000 central line-days—central lines being catheters inserted in large veins—in Indian hospital ICUs on average. CLABSI infections are largely preventable but contribute considerably to prolonged illness, increased mortality, and elevated treatment costs, especially in low- and middle-income countries like India.
The study analyzed data spanning seven years (May 1, 2017, to April 30, 2024) from 200 ICUs across 54 hospitals, collected through the Indian Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) surveillance network. During this period, 8,629 laboratory-confirmed CLABSI incidents were reported along with over 3 million patient-days and nearly 1 million central line-days. The overall CLABSI rate was 8.83 per 1,000 central line-days.
A significant spike in CLABSI rates was observed during the 2020-21 period, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers attributed this increase to overwhelmed ICUs, staff shortages, and compromised infection prevention protocols during the health crisis.
The study emphasizes the critical importance of systematically tracking bloodstream infections to inform and tailor preventive healthcare measures suited to India’s healthcare infrastructure. However, such surveillance demands substantial resources and remains a challenge in resource-limited settings.
The authors regard this as the first large-scale observational study offering a standardized surveillance report on CLABSI in India, providing a valuable foundation for quality improvement initiatives aimed at reducing these infections.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Readers should consult healthcare professionals for personal medical concerns.
Reference: AIIMS-led study published in The Lancet Global Health and reported by Economic Times HealthWorld.
