Bacteriologic contamination of intravenous infusion delivery systems in an intensive care unit

Central Venous Catheter Infection

“…Only four of eighteen patients in this study did not receive blood products, TPN or propofol during their stay in ICU, of which only one catheter was inserted in ICU (2 A/E and 1 Theatre). The average proportion of catheters with a filter throughout the duration of catheterisation was 39%, compared to 56% in the study by Quercia et al (1986) in a surgical ICU. However in this study, filters were not available in Theatre, A E, or on the wards thus only catheters both inserted and removed in ICU are comparable.…”

“…Rates of positive culture of inline filters in a variety of settings have been reported in the range of 2.8 to 29.1% (Gill 1984). In an Intensive Care Unit, and using a similar method, Quercia et al (1986) detected a contamination level of 14% after only 24 hours use, with at least one contaminated filter from each patient during the study period. This compares closely to 3/18 (16.6%) of filters removed after 24 hours in this study .…”

“…Table 4.45. Collins et al 1973 filled with trypticase soya broth (TSB) and incubated Newman et al 1975 opened with hot wire, membrane placed on TSB soaked filter pad and incubated Brismar et al 1984 membrane removed and placed on blood agar plate Quercia et al 1986 2.5ml TSB injected into set with syringe, left on as cap, and incubated…”

“…No penetration was observed with a 0.2pm membrane. Quercia et al (1986) randomly assigned patients in a surgical ICU to receive Ivex-2 (Abbott laboratories) filtersets with or without an internal 0.22µm membrane, on "all their IV lines" replaced every 24 hours. Again the type of cannulae was not stated, but the study was prior to the introduction of triple-lumen catheters.…”

Acute Cutaneous Complications and Catheter Needle Colonization During Insulin-Pump Treatment

“…Particular attention should be drawn to S. epidermidis. This skin commensal is being increasingly recognized as a major cause of serious human infection, mainly in association with medical devices (31)(32)(33)(34).…”