Abstract:
Background: While the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic generally was associated with more healthcare-associated infections (HAI) we found fewer central venous catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) during the pandemic as compared to the time period before in patients mainly with haematological malignancies. Since data on post-pandemic HAI are scarce, we conducted an analysis focused on post-pandemic CRBSI. We hypothesised that the CRBSI incidence has increased again after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Methods: For this cohort study, data were derived from a multicentre real-world registry on routine CVC surveillance in haematology and oncology departments in Germany. CRBSI that occurred after and during the pandemic, respectively, were compared with those before the pandemic. Endpoints were CRBSI incidences and rates.
Results: A total of 1474, 1079, and 692 CVC from the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic period, respectively, were analysed. CVC were mostly used in patients with haematological malignancies. Compared to the CRBSI incidence of the pre-pandemic and pandemic cohorts (3.9 and 1.9/1000 CVC days, respectively; p < 0.001), the CRBSI incidence of the post-pandemic cohort was similar to the incidence of the pre-pandemic cohort (3.3/1000 CVC days; p = 0.43). Likewise, the CRBSI rate declined during the pandemic (6.0% vs. 2.9%; p < 0.001) and increased afterwards to a level comparable to that from the pre-pandemic period (4.8%; p = 0.29). In multivariable analysis, the time periods before and after the pandemic were independent CRBSI risk factors.
Conclusions: Our data provide some evidence that following a temporary decline of CRBSI during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, CRBSI now returned to that observed in the pre-pandemic era.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13756-025-01674-8.
Reference:Schmidt-Hieber M, Kriege O, Panse J, Naendrup JH, Böll B, Hentrich M, Teschner D, Schalk E; SECRECY Investigators. Incidence of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections before, during, and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a registry-based cohort study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2025 Dec 9;14(1):149. doi: 10.1186/s13756-025-01674-8. PMID: 41366505; PMCID: PMC12690893.