Contamination of internal jugular cannulae.
137 internal jugular vein cannulae from 113 patients undergoing open heart surgery were cultured using standard broth culture and a semiquantitative culture technique. 60 of the cannulae were placed using an aseptic technique and 77 using a standard non sterile technique. Significant contamination was found in 18.3% of the cannulae in the aseptic group and 15.6% in the standard group. The contaminating organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis in 87.1% of cases. No advantage in using an aseptic technique of cannula insertion was demonstrated. It was concluded that the major source of contamination was elsewhere.
D000985:Antisepsis / Q000379:methods*; D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000382:microbiology; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors