Practice guideline on the prevention and treatment of central line-associated bloodstream infection: Part 1––Diagnosis and prevention

Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a severe complication of indwelling intravascular catheters and a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units (ICUs). CLABSI significantly increases mortality, prolongs hospital stays, and elevates healthcare costs. Recent large-scale clinical studies of CLABSI diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, alongside evolving antibiotic resistance patterns and new antimicrobial developments, have necessitated updates to clinical management strategies. Consequently, the Chinese Society of Critical Care Medicine (CSCCM) has updated the 2007 guideline on intravascular catheter-related infections. This guideline was developed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology for evidence assessment. A multidisciplinary working group formulated clinical questions, conducted systematic literature reviews, performed meta-analyses, and synthesized evidence to draft recommendations. The recommendations underwent iterative revisions through expert panel reviews, remote and in-person meetings, and two rounds of voting by the Society’s Standing Committee before finalization. The guideline comprises 52 recommendations, focusing on adult patients in ICU with central venous catheters. This document, Part 1, addresses diagnosis and prevention, formulated using GRADE methodology. The aims of the guideline are to standardize best practices, reduce CLABSI incidence, and improve the outcomes of patients in ICUs. Practice Guideline Registration: Practice Guideline Registration for Transparency (PREPARE-2024CN873).