Preventive measures to counteract intravascular devices related infection

Overview

Intravascular device related infections remain a serious problem in critical care setting. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta hasdeveloped a novel guidelines for prevention of these infections in 1996. These guidelines were elaborated upon the basis of more than 400 publishedpapers. We present the core sections of those guidelines. The first part covers the definitions, epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis and strategiesto prevent catheter related infections. Second part is focused on concrete interventions in clinical practice – general precautions, those focused onperipherally inserted venous catheters, central venous and arterial catheters, hemodialysis central venous catheters, peripherally inserted arterialcatheters and invasive pressure monitoring systems, umbilical catheters.

Key words:
catheter related sepsis – catheter related infection – blood stream infection – sepsis – central venous catheters