Healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs), which
are most associated with central lines, account for significant
morbidity and mortality among intensive care unit (ICU)
patients. Although recent years have seen a decline in central
line–associated BSIs (CLABSIs) occurring in ICUs in the
United States, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 12,000–18,000
CLABSIs occurred in US ICUs in 2009. CLABSIs cost the
healthcare system approximately $16,550 per episode, with
an attributable mortality of 15%–25% per episode.
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