Prevention of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection in Patients With Hemato-Oncological Disease

Central venous lines (CVLs) are commonly used in patients with hemato-oncological disease for indications such as monitoring of hemodynamics and administration of blood products, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, and infusion fluids. Complications of catheterization include mechanical (arterial puncture, pneumothorax), thrombotic and infectious complications.Data from the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system (US) between January 1992 and February 1998 showed that catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBI) is the third most frequent nosocomial infection and accounts for 14% of all nosocomial infections. CRBIs prolong hospital stays from 7 to 21 days and account for an estimated increase in hospital costs of $ 3000-40 000 per patient.In addition, an estimated 10-20% attributable mortality owing to nosocomial CRBI has been reported.

Besides the aseptic measures both for the insertion of the catheter and its maintenance, many different approaches have been attempted to decrease central venous catheter infections: heparin-coated catheters, as well as antimicrobial and antiseptic impregnated CVLs.

Heparin-coated catheters:

Studies have shown that catheter-related infection may be due to fibrin deposition associated with catheters. Interventions designed to decrease fibrin deposition and thrombus formation have the potential to reduce catheter-related infections.

Antiseptic-coated catheters:

Catheter colonization is an essential prerequisite in the pathogenesis of CRBI. Colonization results from contamination of the catheters during insertion and subsequent care. There are data to suggest that contamination often occurs at the time of insertion. Therefore, attempts to prevent colonization focus on the elimination of initial contamination through aseptic technique and on the retardation of subsequent migration of organisms into the bloodstream.

Recently, catheters impregnated with chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine have been developed to reduce the risk of catheter-related sepsis. Initial studies on humans showed that such impregnation could effectively reduce colonization in short-term catheterisation, but they have been less conclusive in showing the benefit of such impregnation in reducing catheter-related bloodstream infections.The efficacy of these antiseptic catheters varies in different subgroup populations.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients are eligible for the study if they are between 4 and 65 years of age and have a short-term non-tunneled percutaneous CVL.

Exclusion criteria

• The presence of a CVL at admission
• An anticipated duration of catheterization of less than 5 days or more than 35 days
• A contraindication to the use of subclavian catheterization due to major blood coagulation disorders (ie, platelet count < 50 x 10^9/L)
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Prior allergic reactions to heparin or to CSS
• An aberrant course of the CVL (jugular vein)
• An absence of catheter-tip culture at the time of catheter removal.