title: Reduced rates of catheter-associated infection by use of a new silver-impregnated central venous catheter.
abstract: A central venous catheter with a new form of silver impregnation of the internal and external surfaces was investigated for antimicrobial activity and tolerance in patients in a controlled comparative, prospective and randomized clinical study. Commercially available catheters with no antimicrobial activity were used as controls. One hundred sixty-five catheters were included in the final evaluation. All catheters were percutaneously inserted for the first time with a duration of > or = 5 days and a microbiological examination of the catheter tip. Catheter location (> 90% internal jugular vein), mean duration of catheterization (8-9 days), patients' age and diagnosis were comparable in both groups. Silver-impregnated catheter tips showed an incidence of colonization in 14.2/1000 catheter days and control catheters in 22.8/1000 catheter days. This represents a reduction of 37.7%. Catheter-associated infections were diagnosed in the silver group in 5.26/1000 catheter days and 18.34/1000 catheter days in the control group, indicating a reduction rate of 71.3% (P < 0.05, chi 2-test). No complications or side effects were documented in either group.
authors.affiliation: Klinik mit Poliklinik für Kinder und Jugendliche, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böswald
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lugauer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regenfus
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bechert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greil
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Guggenbichler
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012834:Silver
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012834:Silver