Antiseptic chamber-containing hub reduces central venous catheter-related infection: a prospective, randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
The hub connecting the catheter and the infusion equipment is a common portal of entry for bacteria causing catheter-related sepsis. We assessed the efficacy of a new hub model (Segur-Lock) that incorporates an antiseptic chamber filled with 3% iodinated alcohol in preventing endoluminal catheter contamination and catheter-related bloodstream infection arising at the hub.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, multicenter study.


METHODS
Seven medical and surgical adult intensive care units in Spain.


METHODS
A total of 230 patients aged 18 yrs or older requiring the insertion of a nontunneled central venous catheter for >or=6 days from January 1, 1998, to April 30, 1999.


METHODS
Patients were randomized at the time of catheter insertion to receive catheters with standard Luer-lock connector (control group, n = 114) or catheters with the new hub model (n = 116).


RESULTS
Skin, catheter tip, and hub cultures were performed at the time the catheter was withdrawn because therapy was terminated or due to suspicion of sepsis, in which case peripheral blood and infusate cultures were simultaneously taken. Catheter-related bloodstream infection was diagnosed in 19 (8.3%) patients. Catheters were more often withdrawn because of suspicion of infection in the control group (43.8%) than in the new hub model group (30.1%, p <.035). The prevalence of culture-positive catheter hubs without associated bacteremia (colonization) was higher in the control group (14.4% vs. 4.3%, p <.001). Catheter-related bloodstream infection from the catheter hub also occurred more frequently in controls than in patients assigned to the new hub model (7% vs. 1.7%; p <.049; relative risk, 4.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-19).


CONCLUSIONS
This new antiseptic chamber-containing hub has proved to be effective in preventing endoluminal bacterial colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection from hub contamination in intensive care unit patients with central venous catheters inserted for >or=6 days.
León
Cristóbal
C
Intensive Care Units of Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
Alvarez-Lerma
Francisco
F
Ruiz-Santana
Sergio
S
González
Víctor
V
de la Torre
María-Victoria
MV
Sierra
Rafael
R
León
Miguel
M
Rodrigo
Juan-José
JJ
D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007455:Iodine; D007601:Jugular Veins; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D007455:Iodine