Table 1 The main features of currently used surveillance criteria of neonatal CLABSI summarised

Target patient population

≤ 1 year

Very low birthweight infants: birthweight < 1500 g

Neonates: postnatal age ≤ 28 days for term and up to postmenstrual age of 44 weeks for preterm infants

Description of CLABSI criteria

Laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection

(1) with a detected pathogen

OR

(2) with the same common commensal^a confirmed by a second blood specimen

Laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection

(1) with a detected pathogen

OR

(2) with CoNS confirmed by a second blood specimen or one out of 4 laboratory elements

Laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection

(1) with a detected pathogen

OR

(2) with same common commensal^a confirmed by a second blood specimen

OR

(3) with a common commensal and CRP > 10 mg/L

Clinical sepsis

(3) no detected pathogen

Clinical findings used in criteria

One out of four^b clinical symptoms for CoNS CLABSI criteria

Two or more out of 16^c

findings bundled in seven categories for all CLABSI criteria

Clinical symptoms of neonatal sepsis according to the treating physician for “common commensal CLABSI criteria”

Challenges for application in the Dutch setting

Two blood cultures for one event (not common practice, single blood culture policy)

Numerous clinical elements (labour intensive surveillance and possible interference with interrater agreement)

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