INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPORARY EPIDURAL CATHETERS

To identify cases of deep-tissue or local infection associated with te mporary epidural catheters, we reviewed medical records from 1980 thro ugh 1992 and prospectively followed up patients with temporary epidura l catheters from January 1993 through June 1993 who were hospitalized at a large, tertiary referral hospital. We identified seven cases of t emporary epidural catheter-associated infection, including three cases of deep-tissue infection (paraspinal muscle abscess, epidural abscess , and meningitis) and four cases of local infection. The infections we re diagnosed 2 days to 22 days following insertion of the epidural cat heter. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in four (57%) of the cases. All seven patients were treated with removal of the catheter and antim icrobial therapy; three patients also required surgical drainage for m anagement of deep-tissue infection. Our findings emphasize the importa nce of daily inspection and prompt removal of temporary epidural cathe ters if infection is suspected.