PREVALENCE OF PRIMARY BLOOD-STREAM INFECTIONS IN REPRESENTATIVE GERMAN HOSPITALS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL VASCULARCATHETERS

The prevalence of noncentral and central lines and the prevalence of n osocomial primary bloodstream infections was investigated in 72 repres entative German hospitals (NIDEP Study). Data from a total of 14 966 p atients were documented. On the prevalence day, it amounted to 23.9% f or noncentral and 5.1% for central lines. The total prevalence of noso comial primary bloodstream infections was 0.3%. 8.3% of all nosocomial infections recorded were primary bloodstream infections. The device u tilization rate of vascular catheters was retrospectively observed for both the prevalence day and another 6 days. The device utilization ra te was 27.3% for peripheral and 6.1% for central catheters with higher rates in west Germany. The associated incidence density of primary no socomial bloodstream infections per 1000 catheter-days was 0.3 for non central and 0.8 for central lines. In 61.4%, the primary bloodstream i nfections were microbiologically confirmed. In 52.6% of cases, Gram-po sitive bacteria were isolated (Staphylococcus aureus: 15.8%, other coa gulase negative Staphylococcus species: 34.2%) and in 47.4%, Gram-nega tive ones (mostly: Escherichia coli: 13.2% and Klebsiella species: 10. 5%). Prevention to reduce nosocomial bloodstream infections is possibl e by antimicrobial establishing specially trained infusion therapy tea ms, using antimicrobial or antiseptic impregnated bloodstream catheter s and a strict review of the indication for a vascular catheter togeth er with a minimization of catheter days.