Monitoring the epidemiology of bloodstream infections: aims, methods and importance

Abstract

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a major cause of mortality, morbidity and medical cost. Even though monitoring activities have been on-going for decades, it is difficult to depict a full picture of the burden of BSI. The main reasons for shortcomings include varying study aims, definitions and inclusion criteria for both microorganisms and patients. Incidence studies are commonly hampered by difficulties in delineating the population at risk. The objective of this review was to provide a framework for comprehensive BSI monitoring systems in the future. We highlight the importance of standardized definitions and acquisition of data combined with cautious statistical analyses. Hereby, valid data on BSI can be provided for clinicians and decision makers and ultimately contribute to improvement of the quality of care for BSI patients.

Keywords::

• bacteremia
• epidemiology
• monitoring
• outcome
• surveillance

Financial & competing interest disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or any financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of the manuscript.

Key issues

• • Even today limited population-based data are available on the epidemiology of bloodstream infection.

• • No uniform case definition or selection of patients and pathogens are yet adopted.

• • Monitoring entails the collection, analysis and interpretation and dissemination of results.

• • Monitoring requires an unambiguous standardized case definition and regular evaluation. Monitoring data must be accurate, consistent and timely for effective monitoring of trends and outbreaks.

• • The data collected must be representative of readily definable or entire populations.

Notes

Data taken from [45,85].