Incidence, microbial profile and antimicrobial resistance trends of CLABSI in adult ICUs: a longitudinal prospective study

Background and Objectives: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain a major cause of health- care-associated mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs, especially in resource-poor settings where surveillance data are scarce. This study aimed to determine CLABSI incidence, risk factors, causative organisms, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns across adult intensive care units (ICUs). Materials and Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted amongst 200 adult ICU patients with central line (CL) in-situ for >2 calendar days. CLABSI surveillance followed definitions by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Healthcare Safety Network. Microbiological identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: The overall CLABSI incidence was 19.25/1,000 catheter days. CLABSI patients demonstrated significantly ex- tended hospitalization (20.22 vs 9.09 days, p