Another risk factor for CLABSIs

A study in the latest issue of Surgical Infections examines the role of obesity in HAIs. This study was performed in the surgical and trauma ICUs at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University. The investigators found that severe obesity (BMI >40) was an independent predictor (odds ratio 3.2) of catheter-related BSI when controlling for age, gender and severity of illness. The authors speculate that the reasons for the higher rates of BSI include the difficulty of obtaining vascular access in these patients, the reluctance to discontinue the lines because of line placement difficulties, and the longer lengths of stay these patients require.