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Colonization of intravascular catheters in the intensive care unit

W Samsoondar, J B Freeman, I Coultish

    American Journal of Surgery
    |June 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Intravascular catheters like arterial, Swan-Ganz, and central venous lines can become colonized, increasing infection risks. Central venous catheters showed the highest colonization rates in this intensive care unit study.

    Area of Science:

    • Infectious Diseases
    • Critical Care Medicine
    • Medical Device Microbiology

    Background:

    • Intravascular catheters are essential in intensive care units (ICUs) but pose risks for nosocomial infections.
    • Catheter colonization can lead to serious complications like septicemia.
    • Understanding colonization rates is crucial for infection control.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the colonization rates of different types of intravascular catheters in ICUs.
    • To identify which catheter types are most susceptible to colonization.
    • To inform strategies for reducing catheter-related infections.

    Main Methods:

    • A prospective study was conducted in two comparable hospital ICUs.
    • Colonization rates were assessed for arterial, Swan-Ganz, and central venous catheters.
    • A threshold of >15 colony counts was used to define colonization.

    Main Results:

    • An overall intravascular catheter colonization rate of 25% was observed.
    • Arterial catheters exhibited the lowest colonization rates.
    • Central venous catheters demonstrated the highest colonization rates.

    Conclusions:

    • All studied intravascular catheters (arterial, Swan-Ganz, central venous) are potential sources of nosocomial infections and septicemia.
    • Catheter insertion should be judiciously considered based on necessity.
    • Future research should focus on insertion techniques, dressing care, delivery systems, and catheter material to mitigate risks.

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