title: Surveillance for catheter-associated bloodstream infection in hematology units: quantifying the characteristics of a practical case definition.
abstract: We evaluated 66 patients in a hematology unit, who used a total of 106 central venous catheters (CVCs), to identify CVC-associated bloodstream infections using standard and modified surveillance case definitions. Compared with the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system criteria, a modified case definition used by treating physicians demonstrated 100.0% sensitivity and 94.3% specificity. This case definition provides a practical method for effectively excluding CVC-associated bloodstream infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. leon.worth@petermac.org
authors.forename: Leon J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Karin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thursky
authors.forename: Monica A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Slavin
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology