On the role of length of stay in healthcare-associated bloodstream infection

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012 Dec;33(12):1213-8. doi: 10.1086/668422. Epub 2012 Oct 19.

Abstract

Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the role played by length of hospital stay in the risk of healthcare-associated bloodstream infection (BSI), independent of demographic and clinical risk factors for BSI.

Patients: We employed data from 113,893 admissions from inpatients discharged between 2006 and 2008.

Setting: Large tertiary healthcare center in New York City.

Methods: We estimated the crude and adjusted hazard of BSI by conducting logistic regression using a person-day data structure. The covariates included in the fully adjusted model included age, sex, Charlson score of comorbidity, renal failure, and malignancy as static variables and central venous catheterization, mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit stay as time-varying variables.

Results: In the crude model, we observed a nonlinear increasing hazard of BSI with increasing hospital stay. This trend was reduced to a constant hazard when fully adjusted for demographic and clinical risk factors for BSI.

Conclusion: The association between longer length of hospital stay and increased risk of infection can largely be explained by the increased duration of stay among those who have underlying morbidity and require invasive procedures. We should take caution in attributing the association between length of stay and BSI to a direct negative impact of the healthcare environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sepsis / epidemiology*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Tertiary Care Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult