Infecção de corrente sanguínea em um hospital de ensino do nordeste: perfil clínico-epidemiológico, fatores associados e mortalidade

Abstract

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are serious events associated with the use of catheters, increasing morbidity and mortality, healthcare costs, and risks related to microbial resistance. BSI occur primarily through the use of intravascular devices, whose inadequate handling facilitates the migration of microorganisms and the development of severe infections, such as sepsis. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between bloodstream infections and different types of venous access in order to strengthen patient safety and reduce complications. This research is a prospective cohort observational study with a quantitative approach. It was conducted in a University Hospital. The sample consisted of 487 hospitalized patients admitted to inpatient units for more than 48 hours, who had no record of previous infection or history of recent hospitalization. Among the patients included in the study, 29.56% developed healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (HA-BSI), with BSI identified in 6.2% of patients. The highest occurrence was found in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (33.3%) and in the Medical Clinic (29.63%), being associated with higher mean age (51.3 years) and the use of invasive devices. Among the positive cases, the use of peripheral venous access was the most frequent (90.3%), followed by central venous catheters (51.6%), with a predominance of insertion in the internal jugular vein (68.75%). The most prevalent microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis (35.5%), Escherichia coli (9.7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.7%). The findings demonstrate that BSI remains an important hospital problem, occurring mainly in more severe patients, such as those admitted to the ICU, which represents a high-risk environment for BSI. The impact of invasive device use, including peripheral venous catheters, is reinforced as an important determinant of infection risk. The presence of clinically relevant microorganisms confirms the pattern observed in international literature, highlighting the need for strict prevention practices, proper handling of devices, and strengthening of infection control programs to reduce BSI incidence in patients with greater clinical complexity. Therefore, nurses, who are directly involved in catheter care and handling, play a fundamental role in both the prevention and early identification of complications.