Generalisability
MAY, RECRUITMENT
Most ICUs included in our study had CLABSI rates above the median of the respective ICU-KISS reference data within 18 months before recruitment. This represents a selected study population, and might not be representative for all ICUs. However, it should be notified that “CLABSI rates above the median” referred to the time period between 01/01/2014 and 30/06/2015 (18 months before the recruitment). The baseline period of the study period, however, lasted from February 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017 in the octenidine and control group; and from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017 in the chlorhexidine group. Thus, CLABSI rates of ICUs recruited for the CLIP-ID study may have changed until the baseline period started e.g. by the fact of being recruited for the CLIP-ID study.In our study population, the median CLABSI rates at baseline was 0.8 CLABSI/1000 CL days. Interestingly, this was similar to the ICU-KISS reference data available for all ICUs participating in the surveillance system (2017–2021) [Type of ICU seems not to have an impact on the effectiveness of antiseptic bathing.
