Guidewire catheter change in central venous catheter biofilm formation in a burn population.
This study was designed to assess the risk of colonization and biofilm formation of central venous catheters left in situ for seven days vs those changed over a guidewire at three days and removed at seven days. Colonization was determined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and compared to a special scraping/sonication culture method. Thirty-one catheters were examined, and no difference was found between catheters left in situ (9 of 16 colonized) and those changed over a guidewire (11 of 15 colonized). Colonization rates rose significantly from 4 of 15 catheters at the time of guidewire change to 11 of 15 at 7 days (p less than 0.001). Of the catheters defined as colonized by SEM, the special culture technique showed bacterial growth in only 35 percent, making a negative culture result of dubious value in ruling out catheter colonization. No beneficial effect of guidewire changes in reducing colonization could be demonstrated.
Kowalewska-Grochowska
K
K
Division of Microbiology, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Canada.
Richards
R
R
Moysa
G L
GL
Lam
K
K
Costerton
J W
JW
King
E G
EG
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors