Risk factors related to bacterial contamination of indwelling vascular catheters in non-infected hosts.
Aerobic, anaerobic and fungal cultures were performed on 70 vascular catheters from 57 non-infected patients. Despite the exclusion of any patient who developed non-catheter-related foci of infection, 46% of all cannulae became contaminated, usually with relatively non-pathogenic organisms. Multiple organisms were observed in one-third of all infected catheters, and six patients developed probable catheter related bacteraemia. Of the risk factors studied, only duration of placement exceeding 3 days was significant. Obsessive aseptic measures did not reduce the rate of contamination.
D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001808:Blood Vessels; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*