Nosocomial infections in patients with central catheters

Intensive care patients with central catheters were included in a month-long study to describe the usage of central catheters and determine factors associated with nosocomial infections. Eighty-seven patients had 130 catheters of five different types used for multiple purposes. All study variables were higher for the infected group. Significant differences were found between noninfected and infected groups in regard to number of single-lumen catheters, laboratory blood draws, intermittent infusions, heparin-locked ports, types of infused solutions, dressing changes, and hospitalized days. Total hospitalization days and total number of intermittent infusions were the best predictors of infection (P less than .05).