Central line associated blood stream infections in gastroschisis patients: A nationwide database analysis of risks, outcomes, and disparities

J Pediatr Surg. 2020 Feb;55(2):286-291. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.10.028. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the risk of central line associated blood-stream infections (CLABSI) in neonatal gastroschisis patients, risk factors, outcomes, and financial implications.

Methods: The 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)'s kid's inpatient database (KID), a national database of pediatric inpatient admissions across the United States, was used to obtain a large sample of gastroschisis admissions. Incidence of CLABSI in the gastroschisis patient population was compared to the incidence of CLABSI in the database. To further study the factors influencing CLABSI in gastroschisis, demographic and clinical features of patients were analyzed. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-squared test. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for variables found to have significance (p < 0.05) were calculated.

Findings: Incidence of CLABSI in this database for pediatric inpatients was 4449 out of 298,862 central line insertions [1.48%] and was 81 out of 2032 [3.9%] (OR 2.83, 95% CI 2.26-3.54, p < 0.001) in the gastroschisis cohort. African American neonates had a significantly higher risk of CLABSI with gastroschisis. Prematurity and low birth-weight in gastroschisis were protective from CLABSI, along with patients from suburban areas or admitted in the Southern USA. Average costs were greater in gastroschisis patients with CLABSI, increasing from $281,779 to $421,970 (p = 0.008). The average length of stay increased from 31 days to 38 days with a CLABSI (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: In gastroschisis patients, CLABSI incidence is high and adds great morbidity and expense. For uncertain reasons, premature and low birth weight babies appear to be protected.

Level of evidence: Level III.

Keywords: CLABSI; Cost; Disparities; Gastroschisis; Length of stay; Total charges.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia*
  • Catheter-Related Infections*
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / adverse effects
  • Central Venous Catheters / adverse effects*
  • Gastroschisis* / complications
  • Gastroschisis* / therapy
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States