Intravenous catheter infections associated with bacteraemia: a 2-year study in a university hospital.

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the incidence and aetiology of central and peripheral venous catheter (C/PVC) infections during a 2-year period (1999-2000) and to determine the susceptibility of isolated microorganisms to various antimicrobial agents. Catheter tips were processed using the semiquantitative method and blood cultures were performed with the BacT/Alert automated system. Antibiotic susceptibilities were performed by disk agar diffusion and MICs were determined by Etest, according to NCCLS standards. During the study period, samples from 1039 C/PVC infections were evaluated, yielding 384 (37.0%) positive cultures. Blood cultures were also available from 274 patients, of which 155 (56.6%) yielded the same microorganism as from the catheter. No bloodstream infections were detected in 104 C/PVC-positive cases. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent isolates, followed by Gram-negative bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Resistance to glycopeptides among staphylococci and enterococci was not detected, whereas 60% of Gram-negative bacilli were resistant to beta-lactams.

• Authors: M Paragioudaki, V Stamouli, F Kolonitsiou, E D Anastassiou, G Dimitracopoulos, I Spiliopoulou
• Journal: Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (Clin Microbiol Infect) Vol. 10 Issue 5 Pg. 431-5 (May 2004) ISSN: 1198-743X [Print] England
• PMID: 15113321 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Methicillin

Topics

• Bacteremia (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Catheterization, Central Venous (adverse effects)
• Catheterization, Peripheral (adverse effects)
• Colony Count, Microbial
• Gram-Negative Bacteria (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Gram-Positive Bacteria (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Greece (epidemiology)
• Hospitals, University
• Humans
• Incidence
• Methicillin (pharmacology)
• Methicillin Resistance
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Retrospective Studies
• Staphylococcal Infections (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Staphylococcus (drug effects, isolation & purification)