Trends in central-line-associated bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a large acute-care hospital system in New York City, 2016-2019.

Background: Central-line bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) negatively impact clinical outcomes and hospital reimbursement. In this report, 4 year trends involving 11 hospitals in New York City were examined.

Methods: Data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) were extracted for 11 acute-care hospitals belonging to the NYC Health + Hospital system from 2016 through 2019. Trends in device infections per 1,000 patient days, device utilization ratios, and standardized infection ratios (SIRs) were examined for the 11 hospitals and for the entire system.

Results: Over the 4-year period, there were progressive declines in central-line days, infections per 1,000 central-line days, and device utilization ratios for the system. The average annual SIRs for the system also declined: 1.40 in 2016, 1.09 in 2017, 1.04 in 2018, and 0.82 in 2019. Case-mix indices correlated with SIRs for CLABSIs. Level 1 trauma centers had higher SIRs and a disproportionately greater number of CLABSIs in patients located in NHSN-defined surgical intensive care units. Similar trends with CAUTIs were noted, with progressive declines in catheter days, infections per 1,000 patient days, device utilization ratios, and SIRs (1.42 in 2016, 0.93 in 2017, 1.18 in 2018, and 0.78 in 2019) over the 4-year period.

Conclusions: Across an 11-hospital system, continuing efforts to reduce device utilization and infection rates resulted in declining SIRs for CLABSIs and CAUTIs. Hospitals with higher case-mix indices, and particularly level 1 trauma centers, had significantly higher central-line infection rates and SIRs.