[Bacteriologic study of indwelling central venous catheters. Factors influencing the risk of microbial colonization and sepsis (author's transl)].

The mechanism of microbial colonization and sepsis is disputed. For many authors, catheter contamination results from poor aseptic technic during insertion or removal or from the descent of organisms along the catheter from the skin puncture site; we think with Michel that endogenous colonization of the thrombus at the tip of the catheter must be considered: a statistical correlation between infected foci remote from the catheter allows this hypothesis; tracheostomy may be considered as well as a percutaneous contaminant as a deep infected focus. The correlation between non specific immunity and contamination is another finding which allows the ability of endogenous colonization.