title: A multicenter study on central venous catheter-associated infections in Italy.
abstract: In a 1-year multicenter study the microbial colonization of 1154 central venous catheters (CVCs) was investigated. Catheters explanted either from immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients were collected and analyzed by five clinical microbiology laboratories located in Ancona, Aviano, Catania, Pavia and Rome, Italy. A further aim was to investigate, by scanning electron microscopy, the features of currently used catheters, both new and explanted from patients, analyzing their surface quality, the influence of the host protein biofilm on their microbial colonization, the modifications caused by their permanence in the body and the relationship between these factors and the occurrence of infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Ultrastrutture, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Paoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Varaldo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000592:standards*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents