Low catheter sepsis rate in a hospital-wide nutrition support service

Four hundred and seventy-nine catheters were inserted into 471 patients over a 6 year period for the administration of total parenteral nutrition. Catheter insertion was carried out only by surgical members of the nutrition support service. Complications were recorded prospectively and stored, with all other details of treatment, on a microcomputer. The mechanical complication rate was 6.4% of catheters used and the incidence of catheter related sepsis (CRS) 2.9%. Catheters which grew organisms, but were not associated with CRS, occurred in 3.7% of catheters used. Catheter care was performed by nurses throughout the hospital under the supervision of the nutrition nurse. The results of our work indicate that restriction of catheter care to specialised nurses is unnecessary providing there is staff education and support. In addition, the value of routine catheter tip culture in patients, not suspected of having infection, is questionable.