Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)
CLABSI is a primary bloodstream infection in a patient with a central venous catheter in place for more than 2 calendar days, tracked by NHSN and used in CMS HAC Reduction Program calculations.
What is CLABSI?
A CLABSI is defined as a laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection in a patient who had a central line in place on the date of the positive blood culture or on the preceding calendar day, where the infection cannot be attributed to another source. NHSN reporting is mandatory for ICUs and other inpatient locations in CMS-participating hospitals. Approximately 30,000 CLABSIs occur annually in US hospitals. Performance is measured via the Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR): observed CLABSIs divided by predicted CLABSIs based on the NHSN national risk model. The CLABSI SIR contributes directly to Domain 2 of the CMS HAC Reduction Program score. The evidence-based prevention bundle (SHEA/IDSA) includes hand hygiene, maximal sterile barrier precautions at insertion, chlorhexidine skin antisepsis, optimal catheter site selection (subclavian preferred over jugular or femoral), and daily assessment of catheter necessity with prompt removal when the line is no longer clinically indicated. Central line days — not just infections — are tracked to monitor device utilization and drive removal decisions.
Why It Matters for Healthcare Analytics
Each CLABSI adds more than $46,000 in additional hospital costs through extended ICU stays, blood cultures, and IV antibiotics. Hospitals in the bottom quartile of the HAC Reduction Program face a 1% Medicare payment reduction across all inpatient DRG payments. Tracking CLABSI rate per 1,000 central line days by unit — alongside insertion checklist compliance — identifies whether infections reflect insertion failures, maintenance failures, or sustained catheter overuse.
How Vizier Tracks CLABSI
Upload your NHSN infection surveillance data and central line day counts, then ask "What is our CLABSI SIR by unit compared to the national benchmark?" — Vizier calculates SIR by location, flags units where line-day utilization ratios are driving excess infection risk, and monitors insertion bundle compliance trends.