Official Statistics

Infographic: bloodstream infections in intensive care units, England, 2024 to 2025

Updated 27 November 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/surveillance-of-bloodstream-infections-in-critical-care-england/infographic-bloodstream-infections-in-intensive-care-units-england-2024-to-2025

This infographic consists of several images which show information on bloodstream infections (BSIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) in England for the financial year (FY) 2024 to 2025.

Overall BSI rate

There were 4.7 BSIs for every 1,000 bed days in adult ICU.

The annual trend in the rate of BSIs in adult ICUs remained stable between FY 2022 to 2023 and FY 2024 to 2025 at around 5 BSIs for every 1,000 days in adult ICU. A peak in the rate of BSIs in adult ICUs was seen between FY 2020 to 2021 and FY 2021 to 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the rate increased to above 6 BSIs for every 1,000 days in adult ICU. In FY 2022 to 2023 the rate returned to pre-pandemic levels.

ICU-associated bloodstream infections (ICU-BSIs)

In FY 2024 to 2025, the rate of BSIs in patients that have been admitted to the ICU for 2 or more days was 3.6 ICU-BSIs per 1,000 days in adult ICU.

Distribution by age and sex

This image shows a population pyramid with the distribution of ICU-BSIs by age and sex. The proportion of cases across age groups and between males and females varies, with the highest number of cases seen in males and females aged between 50 years and 79 years. The number of cases seen in males is higher than that in females, with 65% of ICU-BSIs identified in males, compared with 35% of ICU-BSIs identified in females.

ICU-associated BSIs by organism

47% of ICU-BSIs were caused by Gram-negative bacteria in FY 2024 to 2025.

This image shows a pie chart displaying the breakdown of BSIs caused by Gram-negative bacteria by organism:

  • Klebsiella species: 29%
  • Escherichia coli (E. coli): 22%
  • Pseudomonas species: 10%
  • Serratia species: 8%
  • Acinetobacter species: 2%
  • other Enterobacteriaceae: 19%
  • other Gram-negative bacteria: 10%

Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections

In FY 2024 to 2025, the rate of BSIs linked to central venous catheter (CVC) use remained stable with 1.3 catheter-linked BSIs for every 1,000 days in adult ICU with a CVC.

Mortality rate

In FY 2024 to 2025, 2 out of every 7 adults died within 30 days of an ICU-BSI.

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