Central Venous Catheter Infections in Burn Patients: What is the Optimal Care for These Lines?

Abstract

Burn patients have multiple central venous catheters (CVP) during their hospitalization. The best method of catheter care for CVP in this group of patients remains to be defined. We chose to re-examine our policy of CVP line care, determine the rate of catheter infection and to compare our data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Catheter related blood stream infection project (CR-BSI). This was a prospective observational study to determine the incidence of catheter related infections in our burn patients. Rates of catheter infection were determined by utilizing the (CR-BSI) guidelines from the CDC. Our present method of CVP care includes the changing of the CVP over a guidewire every three days (day 3, 6 and 9 respectively). After three such lines have been placed, the fourth CVP was inserted in a new site. All CVP line changes were done using maximal barrier and sterile precautions. The CVP...