Daily interruption of central venous catheters in critically ill ICU patients

ICU patients require a central venous catheter (CVC) for solutions, and drug administration, transfusions of blood and blood products as well. The purpose of the study was to investigate the frequency of daily interruptions of CVC in critically ill patients. Catheter-related blood stream infections, especially due to Staphylococcus epidermidis, may be related to hand manipulation of the CVC during catheter interruptions.