The 2010/2011 ICCTG National Catheter-Related Infection Pilot Surveillance Study

The National Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infection (CRBSI) Surveillance Pilot Study took place between 1st November 2010 and 31st January 2011.

The project was a collaboration between the Irish Critical Care Trials Group, the HSE Critical Care Program, the Intensive Care Society of Ireland and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. The project was funded by the HSE. 

The focus of the project was the surveillance of central venous catheter (CVC) related infections (CRI) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting. Patients admitted to ICU have a much higher risk of acquiring a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) due to both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. CRIs are one of the most common HCAIs in ICUs, where they can prolong the ICU stay, and be associated with substantial mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs. There is currently no standardised definition in use throughout Ireland to diagnose CRI. The aim of this surveillance study was to establish a three-month pilot project in eight Irish ICUs using standardised Europeans definitions (HELICS – Hospital in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance) to determine the incidence of CVC-related infections in Irish ICUs.