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Cardiology136 papers

Infection of vascular catheter

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Infection of vascular catheters, also known as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), occurs when microorganisms enter the bloodstream through a catheter insertion site, posing significant risks to patients undergoing invasive procedures 1.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical signs include fever, chills, and elevated white blood cell count 1.
  • Positive blood cultures are essential for definitive diagnosis 1.
  • Imaging studies (e.g., ultrasound) may help identify catheter-related thrombosis or extravasation 1.
  • Management

  • Removal of the infected catheter is often necessary 1.
  • Antimicrobial therapy tailored to blood culture results is crucial 1.
  • First-line antibiotics typically include vancomycin (15-20 mg/kg every 12 hours) for gram-positive coverage and an aminoglycoside or a fluoroquinolone for gram-negative coverage 1.
  • Adjunctive treatments may include catheter replacement with strict aseptic technique post-infection 1.
  • Special Populations

  • No specific details provided regarding pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly, or comorbidities in the given abstracts 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Remove the infected central venous catheter promptly to reduce infection spread (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1.
  • Initiate targeted antimicrobial therapy based on blood culture results to ensure appropriate pathogen coverage (Evidence: Moderate) 1.
  • Implement strict aseptic techniques during catheter replacement to prevent recurrence (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1.
  • References

    1 Bacchim Neto FA, Alves AFF, Mascarenhas YM, Giacomini G, Maués NHPB, Nicolucci P et al.. Efficiency of personal dosimetry methods in vascular interventional radiology. Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB) 2017. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Efficiency of personal dosimetry methods in vascular interventional radiology.Bacchim Neto FA, Alves AFF, Mascarenhas YM, Giacomini G, Maués NHPB, Nicolucci P et al. Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB) (2017)

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