Surveillance for Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections

With pay-for-performance metrics now focusing on healthcare-acquired infections, the accuracy with which such infections are identified will have substantial financial implications for hospitals. Moreover, for interhospital comparisons to be valid, surveillance methods must be uniform and reliable across institutions. The recent development of computer algorithms for central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance allows the establishment of a reference standard to assess the accuracy and reliability of current surveillance systems.

In an analysis involving 20 intensive care units across four academic medical centers, investigators compared CLABSI incidence rates as determined by traditional infection-preventionist survei…