Central venous catheter-related blood stream infections: incidence, risk factors, outcome, and associated pathogens

To determine the incidence, risk factors, outcome, and pathogens of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections (CVC-BSIs).

Prospective study.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, India.

One thousand three hundred fourteen consecutive patients undergoing cardiac operations who were admitted to the intensive care unit with CVC.

All patients were assigned into CVC-BSI (n = 35) and non-CVC-BSI (n = 1,279) groups.

Of the 1,314 patients in the study, 35 (2.6%) had CVC-BSI. On univariate analysis, significant risk factors were use of multilumen catheters, coexistent infections, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC), total ventilation hours, emergency surgery, acute physiology, age, chronic health evaluation score (APACHE II), and steroids. On multivariate analysis, duration of catheterization (24.5 +/- 10.9 v 6.1 +/- 3.2; p < 0.001), coexistent infections (57.11% v 2.61%; p < 0.001), IABC (77.1% v 4.1%; p = 0.005), and temperature (38.2 +/- 0.6 v 37.4 +/- 0.3; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of CVC-BSI. Pathogens isolated were Escherichia coli (47%), Acinetobacter species (11.7%), Enterobacter species (5.8%), Proteus species (5.8%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species (11.7%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (5.8%), and Candida (11.7%). The mortality rate in CVC-BSI was 22.9% as compared with 0.2% in non-CVC-BSI cases (p < 0.001).

By univariate analysis, the risk factors for CVC-BSI were use of multilumen catheters, duration of catheterization, total ventilation hours, IABC, emergency surgery, APACHE II score, coexistent infections, and steroids. On multivariate analysis, duration of catheterization, IABC, coexistent infections, and temperature were independent predictors of CVC-BSI. The mortality was increased with CVC-BSI.