Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) represents a severe complication of indwelling intravascular catheters and is 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 on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CLABSI, alongside evolving patterns of antibiotic resistance and new antimicrobial developments, have necessitated updates to clinical management strategies. Hence, the Chinese Society of Critical Care Medicine (CSCCM) has updated the 2007 guideline on intravascular catheter-related infections. This guideline was developed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) methodology for evidence assessment. The multidisciplinary working group formulated clinical questions, conducted systematic literature reviews, performed meta-analyses, and synthesized evidence to develop recommendations. These 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 with central venous catheters in the ICU. Part 1 of this guideline focuses on the diagnosis and prevention of CLABSI. In Part 2, we will further analyze the management of catheters following infection and the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.
Practice guideline registration: Practice Guideline Registration for Transparency, PREPARE-2024CN873.
Reference:Guideline working group of Chinese Society of Critical Care; Kang Y, Guan X, Chen D. Practice guideline on the prevention and treatment of central line-associated bloodstream infection: Part 2 – Treatment. J Intensive Med. 2026 Jan 22;6(3):197-213. doi: 10.1016/j.jointm.2025.10.009. PMID: 42164585; PMCID: PMC13184468.