Incidence and predictors of central venous catheter related infection in intensive care patients

This study investigated the incidence of and risk factors for central venou s catheter (CVC) infection in intensive care. CVCs were prospectively studi ed inpatients who had lines inserted in general or neurosurgical intensive care and were expected to have the line in situ for at least 72 hours, Cath eters (n=119) were cultured for CVC-related infection (CRI; >15 colony form ing units) and blood cultures done when indicated CRI was identified in 32 (26.9%) catheters, CVC related bacteraemia in five cases (4.2%) and CVC rel ated sepsis in none. After adjustment for duration of catheterization, inde pendent predictors of CVC related infection were catheter insertion sire, w ith jugular sites having the highest risk, and primary diagnosis, with neur osurgical patients at least risk.