Intravascular catheter-related infection
Johny Fares, Alexandre Malek, Issam Raad
Abstract
This chapter discusses the importance of central venous catheters (CVC) in securing vascular access for fluids, medications, blood products, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and hemodialysis. It covers central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) as major healthcare-associated infections in high-risk patients. It also mentions the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), which emphasized that CLABSI are associated with a high mortality rate of 12% to 25%. The chapter looks at electron microscopy studies of catheter surfaces and shows how adherent microorganisms can be found in either a free-floating form or a sessile form embedded in a biofilm. It examines the process of adherence that results from intrinsic properties of the catheter, host-derived proteins, and microbial factors.