579 Central Venous Catheter Colonisation and Catheter Related Sepsis: Lessons Learnt from Exit Site Skin Swab. (October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ponnusamy, V; Venkatesh, V; Curley, A; Perperoglou, A; Brown, N; Tremlett, C; Clarke, P
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 97(2012)Supplement 2
• Page Start: A168
• Page End: A168
• Publication Date: 2012-10
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302724.0579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Aim: Percutaneous central venous catheters (PCVCs) are commonly inserted in neonates after topical antisepsis. Presence of a PCVC is a risk factor for catheter-related sepsis (CRS). We examined the relationship between bacteriology of exit site skin swabs (ESSS) taken at line removal and line colonisation/CRS. Design/methods: For all PCVCs removed, ESSS and three separate PCVC segments (proximal, middle and tip) were sent for bacteriological culture. For clinically-septic neonates a peripheral blood culture was additionally obtained. PCVC colonisation was defined as a positive growth in any PCVC segment from a well neonate. Definite CRS was defined as positive growths with the same organism in any PCVC segment plus the blood culture from a clinically-septic neonate. Results: ESSS were culture-positive for 39/187 (21%) lines removed. Univariate analysis showed that with a positive ESSS, line colonisation was 8 times higher (log odds ratio 2.13 [95%CI: 1.18–3.08], p<0.001), and definite CRS was 14 times higher (2.63 [1.14–4.14], p<0.005). Adjusting for various covariates, multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model confirmed an increased risk of CRS with a positive ESSS (log odds ratio 2.00 [95%CI: 0.44–3.58], p=0.01). Conclusion: Positive ESSS correlate strongly with PCVC-colonisation and definite CRS. Improved topical antisepsis, skin and catheter care is required to reduce the risk of colonised skin insertion sites associated with catheter placement, and the consequent risks of line colonisation and subsequent CRS.