Central venous catheter-associated infections

Most patients in the hospital need vascular access: a peripheral venous line, a short-term non-cuffed central venous catheter (CVC), a long-term cuffed CVC, an implantable port or an arterial line. Such devices, although often indispensable and of benefit, may have the disadvantage of mechanical complications, local exit-site infections or catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CRBSI). Apart from peripheral venous lines, non-cuffed CVCs are the most frequent catheter type in hospitals. The risk for CRBSI of such catheters is high with an incidence density of 2 to 7 episodes per 1000 catheter-days depending on ward-type, institution and geographical region. This review describes the epidemiology, the frequency and the risk of CRBSI among non-cuffed CVCs, provides accepted definitions as well as descriptions of diagnostic techniques and highlights various prevention measures.