CATHETER RELATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS (CRBSI) IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ITS RATE, MICROBIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

In A Prospective Study of Its Rate, Abstract- Background: Central venous catheters (CVC) are integral to the modern intensive care practices and its inevitable use also makes patients prone to Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). The aim of the present study was to prospectively study the rate; microbiological profile with antibiotic susceptibility and associated factors of central venous catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in intensive care units of a tertiary hospital in South India. Materials and Methods : The present study was a case control study conducted on 109 patients with CVC in situ. Quantitative blood cultures (QBC) and catheter tip cultures were performed; microbiological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility were assessed. Results : CRBSI was diagnosed in (18/109) patients and the rate of CVC- Blood stream infection number of CVC days was calculated as 13.64 per 1000 catheter days. The mean age of cases was observed to be 51.25(+-6.98) yrs. Patients from surgical ICU; signs of inflammation around catheter site, length of ICU stay, having underlying co-morbid conditions were significantly associated with CRBSI. Staphylococcus aureus followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and non-albicans Candida were common CRBSI pathogens and the bacterial agents were found to be multidrug-resistant (MDR). Conclusion : The incidence of CRBSI was 16.52% and the rate was 13.64 per 1000 catheter day. CRBSI were significantly associated with higher mean age; longer duration of catheterisation and longer stay in ICU.