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Efficacy of subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuffs in preventing central venous catheter infections
N W Hasaniya1, M Angelis, M R Brown
1Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii, the Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, USA.
Study Objectives:
To determine the efficacy of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff in preventing local central venous catheter (CVC)-related infection and catheter-related sepsis in critically ill surgical patients.
Design:
A prospective analysis of the use of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff compared with a control group in two consecutive time periods.
Setting:
Two surgical ICUs at the Queen's Medical Center at the University of Hawaii Surgical Residency Program, Honolulu.
Patients:
All surgical ICU patients requiring insertion of central catheters.
Interventions:
None.
Measurement And Main Result:
Two hundred thirty-five CVCs in 154 patients were prospectively evaluated. Silver-impregnated cuffs were used in the first 100 catheters, but none were used in the remaining 135 catheters. The incidence of catheter-related infection in both groups was 15% and 20%, respectively, not statistically significant. Catheter-related sepsis was 3% in both groups.
Conclusions:
The use of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff failed to decrease the incidence of CVC-related infection and sepsis.