title: Assessment of the quality of publicly reported central line-associated bloodstream infection data in Colorado, 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Validation of self-reported health care-associated infection data is essential to verify correct understanding of definition criteria, surveillance practices, and reporting integrity. Recent studies have found significant under-reporting of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) leading Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to examine the quality of Colorado's CLABSI data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trained Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment staff members performed onsite validation visits that included interviews with infection preventionists to assess surveillance practices and retrospective chart reviews of patients with positive blood cultures in specific intensive care units (adult and neonatal) and long-term acute care hospitals during the first quarter of 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five CLABSIs from the original sample were identified; 33 (60%) in the adult intensive care unit, 7 (12.7%) in the neonatal intensive care unit, and 15 (27.3%) in the long-term acute care hospital. Of the 55 CLABSIs identified by reviewers, 18 (32.7%) were not reported by the hospitals, 37 CLABSIs (67.3%) were reported correctly into the National Healthcare Safety Network, and 1 CLABSI was over-reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was wide variation noted in surveillance practices as well as in application of definition criteria. With 33% under-reported cases, it was concluded that ongoing validation of health care-associated infection data is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO. Electronic address: karen.rich@state.co.us.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: Kirk A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bol
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gilmartin
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Janosz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Data validation; Health care-associated infection; Infection preventionist; National Healthcare Safety Network; Surveillance practices