title: Infection of pulmonary artery catheters. Epidemiologic characteristics and multivariate analysis of risk factors.
abstract: Sixty-nine consecutive pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) were prospectively studied in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. Fifteen (21.7 percent) and two (2.9 percent) of the PACs were associated with colonization and bacteremia, respectively. These data represent an incidence of 4.98 and 0.66 episodes per 100 catheterization-days, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common isolates. The source of the colonizing microorganism was the skin in 56 percent of cases, hubs in 28 percent, and unknown in 16 percent. From multivariate analysis, only more than 5 days of catheterization was significantly associated with a greater risk of colonization. Antimicrobial use was associated with negative cultures. The most useful method to diagnose colonization was the examination of both tip and intradermal segments. In addition, we suggest associate hub cultures when catheter-related bacteremia is suspected. These data may be useful in improving efficacy in the diagnosis and prevention of PAC-related infection.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coll
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Net
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prats
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001815:Bloodletting / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011206:Povidone-Iodine