Hidden Risks in Hospital-Acquired Bloodstream Infections

Strategic Insights -

A nationwide study across 47 hospitals has revealed that many serious bloodstream infections acquired in Indian hospitals emerge from unknown sources, pointing to hidden risks beyond the well-known threat of intravenous tubes. The researchers tracked 7,092 non-central line (CL) bloodstream infections over seven years and found an overall rate of 2.3 infections per 1,000 patient days. Neonatal intensive care units recorded the highest rate of infections, followed by anaesthesia, neurology, burns, and medical ICUs. The study highlights the need to identify and prevent hospital-acquired bloodstream infections from sources other than intravenous tubes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study tracked 7,092 non-central line (CL) bloodstream infections over seven years across 47 hospitals in India.
  • The overall rate of infections was 2.3 per 1,000 patient days, with neonatal intensive care units recording the highest rate of 4.8 per 1,000 patient days.
  • More than 60% of infected patients developed the infection within seven days of admission, highlighting early vulnerability.
  • The study found that bacterial genus Klebsiella accounted for 34% of non-CL infections, followed by Acinetobacter (31%) and Escherichia coli (11%).
  • Over 80% of Acinetobacter species were resistant to at least one carbapenem, a class of last-resort antibiotics used when standard treatments fail.
  • The study emphasizes the need to identify hidden infection sources and monitor microbial resistance to curb deaths and improve outcomes.

Statistics:

  • 7,092 non-central line (CL) bloodstream infections were tracked over seven years across 47 hospitals in India.
  • The overall rate of infections was 2.3 per 1,000 patient days.
  • Neonatal intensive care units recorded the highest rate of 4.8 per 1,000 patient days.
  • 4,242 (60%) of infected patients developed the infection within seven days of admission.
  • Bacterial genus Klebsiella accounted for 34% of non-CL infections.
  • Acinetobacter species were resistant to at least one carbapenem in 80% of cases.

Sources:

  • Mathur, P., et al. (2025). Non-central line (CL) bloodstream infections in Indian hospitals: An emerging threat. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 54, 102032-102036.
  • Tata Medical Centre and the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Calcutta.
  • The Telegraph newspaper, date unspecified.