Current issues in central venous catheter infection.

• Abstract: The majority of central venous line-associated infections are caused by organisms on the skin near the exit site gaining access to the intravascular segment of the catheter. A variety of strategies have been used in an effort to reduce catheter contamination, but one innovation--the semipermeable transparent dressing--may actually increase infection risk. On the other hand, new catheter materials and designs probably reduce the risk. There are only a limited number of well-designed studies of the increasingly popular totally implantable catheter system and the multilumen line, but it appears that the former is associated with a low rate of infection, while the latter may be more hazardous than the single-lumen line.
• Authors: P Toltzis, D A Goldmann (Affiliation: Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.)
• Journal: Annual review of medicine (Annu Rev Med) Vol. 41 Pg. 169-76 ( 1990) ISSN: 0066-4219 [Print] UNITED STATES
• PMID: 2184721 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Bacterial Infections (etiology, prevention & control)
• Catheterization, Central Venous (adverse effects, instrumentation, methods)
• Catheters, Indwelling (adverse effects)
• Equipment Contamination (prevention & control)
• Equipment Design
• Humans
• Prostheses and Implants