Current issues in central venous catheter infection.
The majority of central venous line-associated infections are caused by organisms on the skin near the exit site gaining access to the intravascular segment of the catheter. A variety of strategies have been used in an effort to reduce catheter contamination, but one innovation--the semipermeable transparent dressing--may actually increase infection risk. On the other hand, new catheter materials and designs probably reduce the risk. There are only a limited number of well-designed studies of the increasingly popular totally implantable catheter system and the multilumen line, but it appears that the former is associated with a low rate of infection, while the latter may be more hazardous than the single-lumen line.
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
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Toltzis
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Goldmann
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D019736:Prostheses and Implants