Beyond catheter presence: Risk factors for progression to bloodstream infection during the COVID-19 era-A matched case-control study.

This matched case-control study evaluated 318 hospitalized patients with central venous catheters between 2018 and 2022 to identify risk factors for central line-associated bloodstream infection. Independent risk factors included immunosuppression, longer catheter dwell time, and prolonged hospitalization. Klebsiella pneumoniae predominated among isolates, and the pandemic period was associated with increased carbapenem and quinolone resistance, highlighting the need for sustained infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship strategies.