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Infectious complications of regional anaesthesia

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Anaesthesia, Pain, Intensive Care and Emergency A.P.I.C.E.

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Abstract

Infectious complications may occur after any regional anaesthetic technique, but are of greatest concern if the infection occurs near or within the central neuraxis. Possible risk factors include underlying sepsis, diabetes, depressed immune status, steroid therapy, localised bacterial colonisation or infection, and chronic catheter maintenance. Bacterial infection of the central neuraxis may present as meningitis or cord compression secondary to abscess formation. The infectious source may be exogenous (e.g. contaminated equipment or medication), or endogenous (a bacterial source in the patient seeding to the needle or catheter site). Microorganisms can also be transmitted via a break in aseptic technique, and indwelling catheters may be colonised from a superficial site (skin) and subsequently serve as a wick for spread of infection from the skin to the epidural or intrathecal space.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    D. J. Wedel

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  1. D. J. Wedel
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Catania University Hospital, Catania, Italy

    Antonino Gullo M.D. (Head) (Head)

  2. Postgraduated School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Catania University Hospital, Catania, Italy

    Antonino Gullo M.D. (Head) (Head)

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Wedel, D.J. (2007). Infectious complications of regional anaesthesia. In: Gullo, A. (eds) Anaesthesia, Pain, Intensive Care and Emergency A.P.I.C.E.. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0571-6_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0571-6_30

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0570-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0571-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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