Abstract:
Background: Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are a major healthcare-associated infection, particularly in intensive care unit (ICU) settings.
Aim: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of global research trends, collaborative networks and evolving hotspots in the field of CRBSIs from 1977 to 2024.
Study design: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for publications from 1977 to 2024. Bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer, CiteSpace and the R package ‘bibliometrix’ were utilized to analyse research trends, collaboration networks and keyword dynamics.
Results: A total of 4724 publications were identified, with an annual growth rate of 8.5%. The United States led in publication output (1788), followed by China and Italy. Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University were among the most influential institutions. Key journals included American Journal of Infection Control and Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. Notable authors, such as Victor D. Rosenthal and Jonathan R. Edwards, contributed significantly to the field, with high citation and h-index metrics. Keyword co-occurrence network analysis revealed that recent studies had concentrated on topics such as epidemiology and outcomes, treatment, prevention and guidelines for CRBSIs. Besides, since 2019, the keywords ‘infection control’ and ‘society’ and ‘guidelines’ had been still prominently concentrated.
Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis highlights the sustained growth and global collaboration in CRBSIs research. Current research hotspots focus on the management of CRBSIs and the implementation of clinical guidelines.
Relevance to clinical practice: This bibliometric analysis underscores the critical importance of implementing evidence-based infection control bundles and adhering to updated clinical guidelines to prevent and manage CRBSIs. It highlights the pivotal role of nursing professionals in consistently executing preventive measures, such as hand hygiene and maximal sterile barrier precautions. Furthermore, the findings advocate for optimized diagnostic and treatment pathways, including prompt blood cultures and targeted therapy and emphasize the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to drive continuous quality improvement in critical care settings.
Reference:Li J, Li Z, Wang L, Liu X, Zhu J. The Hotspots and Publication Trends in Central Venous Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection: A Bibliometric Analysis. Nurs Crit Care. 2026 Sep;31(5):e70596. doi: 10.1111/nicc.70596. PMID: 42557958; PMCID: PMC13444666.