title: Catheter related infections in Damas Hospital.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent of catheter-related infections in our Institution. We examined retrospectively 89 medical records of patients in whom an intravascular catheter tip culture were obtained during January through December 1991. Forty-seven catheter related infections were identified in 43 patients. There were 33 multiple lumen infected catheters and 14 single lumen. Catheters for hemodialysis were infected in 38.3% of the patients. Twenty catheters were inserted into the subclavian vein. Fifty percent of the reinserted catheters were placed in the same site, of which 28.6% became infected. Staphylococcus epidermis was isolated in 28.1% of the patients, while in 50% of the patients with Staphylococcus aureus, bacteremia was identified. Staphylococci and Enterococci were more sensitive to Vancomycin than to any other antibiotic.
authors.affiliation: Damas Hospital, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ramírez Ronda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification