BACKGROUND Scheduled replacement of central venous catheters and, by extension, arterial catheters, is not recommended because the daily risk of catheter-related infection is considered constant over time after the first catheter days. Arterial catheters are considered at lower risk for catheter-related infection than central venous catheters in the absence of conclusive evidence. OBJECTIVES ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The importance of postoperative analgesia has increased over the years. Plexular catheters represent a good option for high quality analgesia with reduced systemic repercussions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of side effects and complications in postoperative analgesia with plexular catheters and identify risk factors for bacterial co...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of catheter-related infection in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) receiving epoprostenol (EPO), and to note an etiologic role for Micrococcus spp, which is rarely reported as a pathogen in the medical literature. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Two PAH specialty treatment centers, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (Torrance, CA), a...

OBJECTIVE Major catheter-related infection includes catheter-related bloodstream infections and clinical sepsis without bloodstream infection resolving after catheter removal with a positive quantitative tip culture. Insertion site dressings are a major mean to reduce catheter infections by the extraluminal route. However, the importance of dressing disruptions in the occurrence of major cathet...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Tunneled dialysis catheters are prone to frequent malfunction and infection. Catheter thrombosis occurs despite prophylactic anticoagulant locks. Catheter thrombi may also serve as a nidus for catheter infection, thereby increasing the risk of bacteremia. Thus, heparin coating of catheters may reduce thrombosis and infection. This study evaluated whether heparin-coated...

BACKGROUND Central venous catheter-related infections are a significant medical problem. Improved preventive measures are needed. OBJECTIVE To ascertain 1) effectiveness of a second-generation antiseptic-coated catheter in the prevention of microbial colonization and infection; 2) safety and tolerability of this device; 3) microbiology of infected catheters; and 4) propensity for the developm...

The prevention of hospital-acquired infection has recently received increased prominence as infection rates have been propelled into the spotlight of mandated public reporting, together with expectations of " getting to zero " as the benchmark for infection incidence. These revolutionary initiatives were initially directed toward surgical site infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and blo...

Background: Cancer patients are susceptive to infection. Catheter-related bloodstream infections are the first cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections in intensive care units. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the type of central intravenous catheter and bloodstream infection in post-operative cancer surgery patients at surgery intensive care units (IC...