Bacteremia Surveillance: The Event Formerly Known as Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection

Session Description: This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) bacteremia surveillance pathways, the current nuances of the well utilized bloodstream infection surveillance definitions, and proposed guidance for identifying a bacteremic and fungemic bloodstream event. Participants will gain an understanding of the core criteria for each definition, including laboratory and timeframe elements that guide accurate case identification. During the presentation, a brief background on the history of bloodstream surveillance will be provided, its current challenges, and definition changes over time. The presentation will then highlight proposed changes to bloodstream infection surveillance with focus on changes to the definition to account for patient acuity, chronic conditions, and extended hospital stays. Providing background information will highlight the initial need for the core bloodstream infection surveillance definition, depict the need to adjust the core definition due to its complexity, and show the need for a more simple measure. By discussing the strengths and limitations of each definition, participants can examine the benefits of each measure in surveillance practice. Additionally, comparing and contrasting the measures will enable participants to better understand the need to evolve bacteremia and fungemia surveillance within hospitals, improve data comparability, and guide targeted prevention strategies. This session will then use case-based learning to assess participant knowledge and understanding of the differences in the definitions. Using detailed case scenarios, we will trace a bacteremic event from the outpatient to the inpatient setting. Attendees will have the opportunity to see how the surveillance definitions may intersect if performed in parallel, and how correct application is key to the event determination. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to apply the definitions with greater confidence, identify their similarities and differences, and identify errors in application that may impact reporting and infection prevention interventions.

Marissa McMeen

Public Health Analyst/Infection Preventionist, Lantana Consulting Group

Marissa McMeen, MPH, MLS (ASCP), CIC, FAPIC is an infection preventionist with more than 15 years of experience in infection surveillance, prevention, and control. Her work has included supporting hospital infection prevention programs, NHSN reporting, and data management and analysis. She currently works with Lantana Consulting Group as a contractor supporting the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Marissa has been a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) since 2011 and has been Certified in Infection Control (CIC) since 2013. She served as President of the APIC Delaware Valley and Philadelphia Chapter in 2023. Marissa earned a B.S. in Biology from King’s College, a Certificate in Medical Technology from Robert Packer Hospital School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and a Master of Public Health with a certificate in Health Care Administration from West Chester University.

Kristi Betz

Public Health Physician, CDC/NCEZID/DHQP/SB

Kristina Betz MD, PhD is a physician and the Measure Development and Validation Unit Lead for Surveillance Branch/National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC. She completed her PhD at the University of Cincinnati in Immunology and completed her Pediatrics residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. As part of Surveillance Branch, she has a key role in NHSN's transition to new data interoperability standards and has specifically worked on the development of several new digital quality measures including Healthcare-facility onset, antibiotic-treated Clostridioides difficile Infection, Healthcare-onset Bacteremia and fungemia, and Sepsis Surveillance, and oversees validation studies for NHSN.

Amy Johnson

Infection Preventionist, HSHS Wisconsin Division

Amy Johnson, BSN, RN, CIC, is an Infection Preventionist with the HSHS Wisconsin Division in Green Bay, WI. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Amy’s nursing background spans Intermediate/ICU Care, Post‑Anesthesia Care, Gastroenterology, and Clinical Documentation. Amy has been an active leader within the Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) APIC chapter, serving in both treasurer and president roles. She has also been a dedicated member of the Wisconsin State APIC Seminar Planning Committee for the past several years, contributing to statewide education, collaboration, and professional development.