ArdorComm Media News Network
August 21, 2025
A nationwide study led by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has revealed that bloodstream infections linked to catheter use are widespread in intensive care units (ICUs) across India, with many cases caused by highly drug-resistant microbes.
These hospital-acquired infections, known as Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), occur when a catheter inserted into a large vein becomes contaminated. According to estimates published in The Lancet Global Health, Indian ICUs report nearly nine infection events for every 1,000 days a central line remains in use.
The AIIMS-led team analysed seven years of data collected by the Indian Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) surveillance network, spanning 200 ICUs across 54 hospitals. Between May 2017 and April 2024, the network recorded 8,629 confirmed CLABSI cases, covering more than 3 million patient-days and nearly 1 million central line-days. The pooled CLABSI rate was found to be 8.83 per 1,000 central line-days.
The study also observed a spike in infection rates during 2020–21, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers attributed this surge to overburdened ICUs, staff shortages, and lapses in infection prevention practices.
Experts stressed that while CLABSI is preventable, establishing systematic infection surveillance and prevention programs requires significant resources—a major challenge for low- and middle-income countries like India. Nevertheless, the findings mark the first large-scale, standardised surveillance report on CLABSI in India, offering a foundation for healthcare systems to adopt quality improvement measures.
Source: PTI
Photo Credit: AFP