Surveillance of bloodstream infections in Belgian hospitals ('SEP')-Annual report 2016, Data up to and including 2015

Conclusions - key points

• Participation in the surveillance of HA-BSI is mandatory since 2014. There is an increase in the proportion of hospitals contributing data for the entire year (57% in 2015).
• The incidence of HA-BSI, at 8.0/10,000 patient-days, has changed little in the last years, and findings are fairly consistent:
  • Higher incidence in tertiary hospitals
  • Higher incidence in Brussels
  • Higher incidence in ICU (in 2015, four times higher incidence in ICU than those found hospital-wide)
• There is a large variation in HA-BSI incidence between hospitals. This suggests a potential for prevention and/or a need for data validation.
• There is no indication that the rate of central line associated bloodstream infections has decreased in recent years. Among HA-BSI in 2015, 27% were associated with a central line. In total, 45% HA-BSI were directly or indirectly associated with an invasive device (central line, urinary catheter, endotracheal tube). These infections associated with invasive devises are a priority target for prevention.
• The most common microorganisms isolated from HA-BSI were E. coli and S. aureus. Since 2000, the incidence of E. coli and K. pneumonia HA-BSI has increased.
• Since 2013, methicillin resistance in S. aureus has decreased, while resistance to third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems in E. coli and K. pneumoniae has increased.