Antiseptic-impregnated central venous catheters reduce the incidence of bacterial colonization and associated infection in immunocompromised transplant patients.

Author(s): George SJ, Vuddamalay P, Boscoe MJ

Affiliation(s): Department of Anaesthesia, St George's Hospital, London, UK.

Publication date & source: 1997-07, Eur J Anaesthesiol., 14(4):428-31.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

The incidence of bacterial colonization of central venous catheters using a standard polyurethane catheter was compared with that using an antiseptic (silver sulphadiazine and chlorhexidine) impregnated catheter in a group of patients with thoracic organ transplantation. Colonization was reduced from 25 of 35 standard catheters to 10 of 44 study catheters (P < 0.002), a 68% reduction. Similarly, the incidence of concomitant infection, by the same organism at another site was reduced from 10 of 35 standard catheters to 4 of 44 study catheters (P < 0.03), a 63% reduction.