Reduced rates of catheter-associated infection by use of a new silver-impregnated central venous catheter

A central,venous catheter with a new form of silver impregnation of the int ernal and external surfaces nas investigated for antimicrobial activity, an d tolerance in patients in a controlled comparative, prospective and random ized clinical stud,); Commercially available catheters with no antimicrobia l activity,itg were used as controls. One hundred sixty-five catheters ere included in the final evaluation,. II catheters n.ere percutancously insert ed for the first time with a duration of greater than or equal to 5 days an d a microbiological examination of the catheter tip, Catheter location (> 9 0% internal jugular, vein), mean duration of catheterization (8-9 days), pa tients' age and diagnosis were comparable in both groups. Silver, impregnat ed catheter tips showed an incidence of colonization in 1 14.2/1000 cathete r days and control catheters in 22.8/1000 catheter days. This represents a reduction of 37.7%, Catheter-associated infections were diagnosed in the si lver group in 5.26/1000 catheter days and 18.34/1000 catheter days in the c ontrol group, indicating a reduction rate of 71.3% (P<0.05, chi(2)-test). N o complications or side effects were documented in either group.