Catheter-related infections in long-term catheterized dogs. Observations on pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and antibiotic lock technique.
BACKGROUND
Intravascular catheters are associated with severe infections in patients, but only few reports on this problem in animal research exist.


OBJECTIVE
We report on catheter-related bacterial colonization and its consequences in long-term catheterized animals.


METHODS
Foxhounds were instrumented with intravascular catheters and flow probes to study the regulation of renal blood flow and pressures.


RESULTS
After flushing the catheters, alterations in renal blood flow were observed and these could be related to bacterial colonization of intravascular catheters with Pseudomonas species. After attention had been focused on aseptic technique in all experimental phases and prophylactic antibiotic lock instituted, the occurrence of Pseudomonas bacteremia ceased, and the magnitude and incidence of catheter-related colonization and infection by Pseudomonas species dropped considerably.


CONCLUSIONS
The catheter-related colonization that occurred spontaneously in these animals resembled findings in animal experiments in which catheter-related infections were deliberately induced as well as observations made with regard to catheter-related infections in patients. This report emphasizes the importance of asepsis when working with animals with long-term intravascular catheters. We suggest that monitoring for this complication, e.g., by means of catheter cultures at the time of removal, should routinely be part of protocols for animal experiments using long-term intravascular catheters.
Bach
A
A
Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. alfons_bach@krzmail.krz.uni-heidelberg.de
Just
A
A
Berthold
H
H
Ehmke
H
H
Kirchheim
H
H
Borneff-Lipp
M
M
Sonntag
H G
HG
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors