Introduction

Catheter-related infections account for a large part of all nosocomial infections, and clinical studies have suggested that impregnation of catheters with antiseptics or antibiotics could decrease the rates of colonization. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of oligon catheters to reduce bacterial colonization.

Methods

A prospective, randomized clinical study was conducted among patients admitted to our 16-bed cardiac surgery ICU from 1 December 2006 to 1 December 2007 who required a central venous catheter after cardiac surgery. A total of 139 patients were prospectively randomized to receive either an oligon (O group, n = 69) or a standard catheter (S group, n = 70), expected to remain in place for ≥ 3 days. Catheter colonization, catheter-related bloodstream infection and nonbacteremic catheter-related infection were defined according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Blood cultures were drawn at catheter removal, and the removed catheters were analyzed with quantitative cultures. Catheters were removed aseptically if no longer necessary, the patient died or there were signs of sepsis.

Results

A total of 69 catheters were studied in the oligon group and 70 in the standard group. Characteristics of the patients, the insertion site, the duration of catheterization, and other risk factors for infection were similar in the two groups. Catheter colonization, 3 (4.35%) in O group versus 3 (4.28%) in S group, failed to reach significance despite the relative long median duration of catheterization of 9 days versus 8 days, respectively. When catheter colonization occurred, coagulase-negative staphylococcus was found most frequently in both groups.

Conclusion

Oligon central venous catheters did not significantly reduce bacterial catheter colonization or the catheter-related infection rate compared with the standard catheters. This means that usual preventive measures are the cornerstone to control catheter-related infections.