BACKGROUND Chronic hemodialysis patients frequently require vascular access through central venous catheters (CVCs). The most significant complication of these catheters is infection. This risk can be lowered by the use of an antibiotic-Heparin lock. This study focuses on hemodialysis patients using Tunneled-cuffed catheters (TCC), to assess the rate of catheter-related infections (CRI) in cath...

BACKGROUND Haemodialysis (HD) catheter-related blood stream infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acute and chronic renal failure. METHODS We conducted a randomized, prospective, double-blinded trial investigating the clinical value of bismuth-coated non-tunneled HD catheters in patients in need of temporary short-term vascular access. A standard catheter (S...

Received July 22, 2003 Abstract This article provides an overview on the current management of catheter-related blood stream infection in neonates and children. New techniques, such as acridine orange stain and differential time to positivity, are useful in diagnosing catheter-related bacterial infections without catheter removal. Furthermore, they are feasible for those hospitals with limited ...

Background and Methods: Previous studies identifying risk factors for catheter related blood stream infections (BSI) have relied on labor-intensive paper chart review. The electronic medical record (EMR) can provide real-time data for profiling patients at risk for BSI. Our study’s aim was to use our hospital EMR to identify risk factors and develop a clinical predictive model for catheter rela...

conclusions considering possible side effects of heparin and the increase in treatment charges and the fact that using heparin did not have a significant effect on patency and survival of catheters in the studied patients, it is recommended to use normal saline solution to maintain the patency of central venous catheters. results there was no significant difference in the rate of flushing (p = ...

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of technical complications of epidural catheters with subcutaneous injection ports to percutaneous epidural catheters without ports, fixed only by adhesive dressing. We reviewed 149 patients who received 250 epidural catheters for treatment of cancer pain during a 3 1/2-yr period from January 1, 1989, to June 30, 1992. Of the 250 catheters, 52 ...

Infection is the leading complication associated with intravascular devices, and these infections develop when a catheter becomes colonized by microorganisms. To combat this issue, medical device manufacturers seek to provide healthcare facilities with antimicrobial medical devices to prevent or reduce the colonization. In order to adequately evaluate these devices, an in vivo model is required...

Hemodialysis remains the most commonly used RRT option around the world. Technological advances, superior access to care, and better quality of care have led to overall improvement in survival of patients on long-term hemodialysis. Maintaining a functioning upper extremity vascular access for a prolonged duration continues to remain a challenge for dialysis providers. Frequently encountered dif...

INTRODUCTION This study had two objectives: 1) to determine the clinical and microbiological profiles of patients developing intravascular catheter-related local (localized catheter colonization and exit site) and systemic infections and their predisposing factors; 2) to study the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the organisms isolated. METHODOLOGY This case-control study was conducted over...