title: Transmission of nosocomial infection by intravenous catheters: preventive strategies.
abstract: Intravascular catheter-related bacteraemia puts a major burden on health care due to its associated morbidity and mortality. Because of difficulties in the diagnosis and the consequences of catheter infections, prevention of infection is of the utmost importance. Depending on the setting, the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and the patient's personal characteristics, different strategies can be used, but they all focus on catheter care during placement and maintenance of the lines. In this review of the literature, recent data on the aetiology, diagnosis and prevention of catheter-related infections will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: State University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peleman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vogelaers
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*