Catheter-related bacteraemia in intensive care unit patients

Abstract number: 1734_155

Komarnicka J., Grezlikowska H., Naumiuk E., Sledzinska A., Samet A., Wujtewicz M.

Objectives: Analysis of aetiology and clinical characteristics of central venous catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB).

Methods: Microbiological results of proven CRB (isolation of the same pathogen from blood culture and from catheter tip) in patients hospitalised in 12-bed Intensive Care Unit in tertiary care hospital were evaluated, in the period from January 2003 to September 2006. Catheter tips – 3 cm, were examined by Maki technique. Blood cultures were performed in BacT/Alert automated system.

Results: From 1th January 2003 to 30rd September 2006, 2442 blood cultures were performed (16.5% positive). 36 of 84 examined catheter tips were positive. 15 patients were considered as proven CRB and two of them had more than one CRB during hospitalisation (total 17 CRB). Aetiological agents were: 8 coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), 2 A. baumannii, 2 S. maltophilia, 2 Candida albicans, 1 E. cloacae, 1 P.  aeruginosa and 1 E. faecalis. In further 10 patients only catheter tip was positive, without a blood culture: 4 CNS, 1 Candida sp. 1 C.  albicans, 1 E. cloacae, 1 E. faecalis, 1 A. baumannii and 1 P. mirabilis.

In patients with proven CRB six suffered from sepsis and nine had fever only. All infections were nosocomial.

Conclusion: Most of isolated aetiological agents were multiresistant hospital pathogens (except E. faecalis). Because of small number of proven CRB prospective surveillance is essential as well as examining of every catheter tip in situation of removal due to suspicion of infection.