Bacteriological study of indwelling central venous catheter among patients in ICU

Aim: The aim is to study the bacteriological profile of indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) among patients in intensive care unit (ICU). Settings and Design: The study was conducted on admitted patients with indwelling CVC in medical ICU, surgical ICU, and critical care unit of Krishna hospital, Karad. The study design was a prospective observational study. Materials and Methods: Two hundreded patients admitted with an indwelling, CVC. These patients were followed daily for the development of catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSIs) 48 h after insertion of CVC, in which case two sets of blood samples were drawn along with catheter tip and skin swab for culture. Statistical Methods: Incidence of CRBSIs was measured per 1000 catheter days. Results: Among 200 suspected cases with indwelling CVC, 1028 catheter days were observed, and CRBSI rate was 61.28/1000 catheter days. The incidence of CRBSIs were detected in 63 (31.5%) patients. Conclusions: This prospective study has highlighted the incidence, aerobic bacteriological profile of CVC infections, and also the changing trends in the susceptibility pattern of the isolates to routinely used antibiotics in our tertiary care centre. Combined efforts of the microbiologist, clinicians, and hospital infection control team are needed to tackle CRBSI. A proper training program of hospital staffs, maintenance of proper hand hygiene, following up of proper guidelines of catheter insertion, and maintaining aseptic precaution, prior to CVC insertion can reduce CRBSI.