The patient with intravascular lines

Vascular catheters are the most frequently used indwelling devices. Infecti ons are potentially life-threatening complications of their use, and accoun t for an important proportion of nosocomial infections. Diagnostic methods include essentially semi-quantitative culture of catheter tip and blood cul ture. For treatment of most catheter-related infections, the catheter shoul d be removed, and antibiotics should be associated in case of systemic infe ction. Surgically inserted central venous catheter may be maintained in som e conditions depending both from the nature of the pathogen and the severit y of the infection. These different aspects of catheter infections are revi ewed.