Abstract | BACKGROUND: AIM: To search for the microbiological characteristics of catheter-related bacteremia in a Tunisian ICU. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort survey conducted in the ICU of the Habib Bourguiba university hospital, Tunisia (a 22 bed medical- surgical intensive care unit). We had included all patients admitted to the unit over the study period (from August 1st, 2001 to March 31st, 2002), and who submitted to a central venous catheter for more than 24 hours. Catheter-tip specimens were cultured using a semiquantitative method. RESULTS: During the study period 218 central venous catheters (CVC) were assessed. The mean length of time the catheter was kept in place was 8±6.7 days (range; 2 and 46 days). The CVC insertion site was the subclavian vein in 156 cases (71.6%), the jugular vein in 35 cases (16%), and the femoral vein in 27 cases (12.4%). Seventy four catheters (33.9%) were removed because of suspicion of catheter-related sepsis. The catheter-related bacteremia rate was 6.1 infections/1000 days-CVC. Unlike Gram-positive cocci which caused only one case of catheter-related bacteremia, Gram-negative rods, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens were responsible for 91.7% of cases of catheter-related bacteremia. CONCLUSION: Our findings translate a specific microbiological flora in our Tunisian intensive care unit and highlight the importance of a treatment strategy based on local epidemiology in patients with catheter related bacteremia.
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Authors | Hatem Kallel, Hassen Damak, Fouzia Mahjoubi, Mabrouk Bahloul, Hichem Ksibi, Hédi Chelly, Noureddine Rekik, Adnen Hammami, Mounir Bouaziz |
Journal | La Tunisie medicale
(Tunis Med)
Vol. 88
Issue 12
Pg. 876-9
(Dec 2010)
ISSN: 0041-4131 [Print] Tunisia |
PMID | 21136352
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Bacteremia
(microbiology)
- Catheter-Related Infections
(microbiology)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Intensive Care Units
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prospective Studies
- Tunisia
- Young Adult
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