Direct, indirect, and incremental costs of healthcare-associated infections related to venous catheter use in paediatric critical care settings: a scoping review protocol

Abstract Background Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) related to venous catheter use represent a major challenge in paediatric critical care and other high-complexity hospital settings. Infections associated with central venous catheters, peripherally inserted central catheters, and other venous access devices are among the most frequent adverse events in critically ill children and are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure. Although the economic impact of these infections has been investigated, existing evidence remains fragmented and methodologically heterogeneous, with substantial variation in costing approaches, analytical perspectives, and reporting practices. In addition, most economic analyses have focused primarily on central venous catheters and specific intensive care environments, with limited synthesis across different paediatric critical care settings and types of venous access devices. This scoping review aims to map and characterise the available evidence on the direct, indirect, and incremental costs of HAIs associated with venous catheter use in paediatric critical care settings. Methods This protocol describes a scoping review that will be conducted in accordance with the methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Reporting will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A comprehensive search will be undertaken across major bibliographic databases and relevant grey literature sources. Studies reporting cost analyses or economic evaluations related to venous catheter-associated infections in paediatric critical care or other high-complexity inpatient settings will be eligible for inclusion. Data will be charted descriptively, and economic reporting characteristics will be mapped with reference to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS). Findings will be synthesised using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis and presented through tables and visual summaries. Discussion This scoping review will provide an overview of how economic outcomes related to venous catheter-associated HAIs in paediatric critical care settings have been defined, measured, and reported. By identifying methodological and reporting gaps in the existing literature, the review may support the interpretation of cost evidence and inform priorities for future research, infection prevention strategies, and resource allocation decisions in paediatric critical care. Systematic review registration The protocol has been prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/F3BJU).