title: Validation of the surveillance and reporting of central line-associated bloodstream infection denominator data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the main focus of validating central line-associated infections (CLABIs) has been applying strict definitions to identify cases, assessing the denominator counts has received less attention. This study evaluates the accuracy of the reporting of CLABSI denominator patient-day (PD) and central line-day (CLD) counts to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system in one state.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) performed a blinded retrospective chart review on the collection of CLABSI PD and CLD on 9 selected days during the fourth quarter of 2009 from 23 acute care hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1,988 intensive care unit patient charts were reviewed. Comparison of hospital and CT DPH counts identified over-reporting by 300 PD (17.2%) and 200 CLD (21.7%) with 17 hospitals (74%) collecting data manually. PD manual collection methods were more accurate than electronic methods (P < .01). For CLD, there was no significant difference in collection method (P > .05). Wednesday PD counts were more accurate than Monday (P < .05) or Saturday (P < .05). For CLD counts, there was no significant difference among the 3 days (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide some evidence for the prerequisite internal validation of denominator data by hospitals before reporting to the national surveillance system.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Initiatives Branch, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases Section, Hartford, CT. Electronic address: lauren.backman@ct.gov.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Backman
authors.affiliation: Public Health Initiatives Branch, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases Section, Hartford, CT.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nobert
authors.affiliation: Public Health Initiatives Branch, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases Section, Hartford, CT.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melchreit
authors.affiliation: Quality Improvement Support Services, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fekieta
authors.affiliation: Quality Improvement Support Services, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dembry
mesh_terms: D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Data validation; Health care-associated infections; National Healthcare Safety Network Surveillance system