Catheter Contamination Research Articles

In vitro assessment of effect of initial specimen diversion device on detection of central venous catheter contamination or colonization.

The role of initial specimen diversion devices (ISDDs) in preventing contamination of central venous catheter (CVC) blood cultures is undefined. A model to simulate CVC colonization and contamination compared standard cultures with ISDD technique. ISDD detected 100% of colonized CVCs while decreasing false-positive cultures from 36% to 16%.

The Survivability of Bacterial Contaminants on a Retracted Stainless-Steel Needle Within a Novel Vascular Access Device

Highlights Abstract Background: Over-the-needle (OTN) peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are crucial in modern medicine. However, the OTN design allows for direct catheter-to-skin contact during insertion, leaving the sterile catheter at risk for bacterial contamination from the skin. A novel through-the-needle (TTN) PIVC design aims to minimize this risk by shielding the sterile catheter during insertion with the introducer needle. This needle then permanently retracts into the device housing and remains with the patient. In this study, we evaluate the survivability of bacterial contaminants on the retracted needle to address concerns about potential infection risks associated with this design. Methods: Fifteen TTN PIVC devices were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (101 to 102 CFU) on the outer surface of the needle. After needle retraction, devices were stored for 0, 24, 72, and 120 hours. At each time point, devices were processed, and bacterial survival was quantified using standard microbiological techniques. Results: The initial bacterial load (105.1 ± 51.4 CFU per device) decreased significantly over time. By 72 hours, bacterial count had reduced to 1.4 ± 2.4 CFU per device, representing a 98.7% reduction (P < 0.05). No significant change was observed between 72 and 120 hours. The most substantial decline occurred within the first 72 hours, with the difference between 0 hours and both 72 and 120 hours being statistically significant (P = 0.016 for both). Conclusions: The significant reduction in bacterial population on the retracted needle over time suggests a low risk of bacterial propagation within the TTN PIVC device. These findings indicate that the TTN design effectively addresses catheter contamination concerns during insertion without introducing additional infection risks due to needle retention.

Estimation of Staphylococcus total viable count in different contamination states of central venous catheters in hemodialysis centers based on tunable diode laser wavelength‐modulation spectroscopy

AbstractThe surveillance and assessment of the total viable count (TVC) of Staphylococcus under different levels of catheter contamination are crucial for the prevention and evaluation of catheter‐related infections in hemodialysis (HD). This paper demonstrates the noninvasive and accurate measurement of the TVC of Staphylococcus using wavelength‐modulated tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (WMAS). The tunable distributed feedback laser with a central wavelength of 2004 nm was employed and the detection limit of 22.5 ppm for carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis was obtained. The growth of Staphylococcus under different medium concentrations was studied, and the results indicated a strong correlation between the growth rate and final TVC of S. epidermidis with the medium concentration. When the degree of catheter contamination was low, resulting in minimal residual nutrient concentration within the catheter, the bacterial growth rate and TVC were effectively suppressed. Therefore, it is proven that WMAS is a user‐friendly, noninvasive, and high signal‐to‐noise ratio technique for monitoring Staphylococcus, making it an effective tool for assessing Staphylococcus growth in HD catheter surveillance.

Does Catheter Insertion Site Matter? Contamination of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters during Dental Scaling in Dogs.

During dental scaling in dogs under general anaesthesia, contamination of the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) is unavoidable due to splatter and the generated aerosol. Bacterial contamination was compared between two commonly used PIVC placement sites. Thirty-nine client-owned dogs with a minimum length from their nose to their tail base of 50 cm were randomly assigned to receive a PIVC in either their cephalic or saphenous vein. Irrespective of the PIVC placement site, brain heart infusion agar dishes were placed in the cephalic and saphenous vein areas. Their lids were closed 0, 5, and 10 min into the procedure. Contamination was measured by counting the colony-forming units after incubation on different substrates. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and ANCOVA (p < 0.05). The cephalic vein area showed a significantly higher bacterial load than the saphenous vein area (p ≈ 0.0) regardless of the length of the dog. Furthermore, the dorsal PIVC injection ports were sampled before and after scaling, and the colonies isolated were counted and subjected to MALDI-TOF-MS for identification. The bacteria mainly belonged to the genera Staphylococcus, Neisseria, and Bacillus. Our results suggest that for dental scaling in dogs, the PIVC should be placed in the pelvic limb whenever possible to reduce the potential risk of contamination.

Description of postoperative complications and bacterial contamination of wound soaker catheters used to administer postoperative local analgesia after mastectomy in 11 dogs: case series

Mastectomy is a common and painful procedure in dogs. Wound soaker catheters (WSC) are frequently used to reduce postoperative pain, including pain after mastectomy. The objectives of this case series were to describe the use of WSC for owner administration of postoperative local analgesia in dogs with mammary tumors treated surgically, to identify complications associated with WSC and to determine the frequency of bacterial colonization of the catheters. Twelve WSC were placed in 11 dogs during mastectomy surgery, left in place for three days, protected by a dressing and successfully managed by owners at home. No postoperative antibiotics were administered. No complications were identified in any cases. No bacterial growth was identified on bacteriological analysis of the twelve WSC. These results suggest that the use of WSC is a safe alternative for postoperative analgesia administration following mastectomy in dogs. Future studies comparing dogs with or without WSC with a larger number of dogs are needed to further evaluate efficacy and complications.

Microbial Transfer by Intermittent Catheters: An In Vitro Evaluation of Microbial Transfer in Catheter With Variable Protective Features.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various protective features (eg, catheter cap, introducer tip, and catheter sleeve) of hydrophilic intermittent catheters against contamination with urinary tract infection-associated microorganisms using an in vitro model. An in vitro study of microbial transfer. Gloves were contaminated with uropathogenic microorganisms and used to simulate intermittent catheterization of male anatomical models with and without the protective features present in 5 commercially available hydrophilic catheters. Using this contaminated touch transfer method, both the meatus of the sterile male anatomical models and sterile surgical gloves of an operator were inoculated with a high level of microorganisms (107 and 109 colony-forming units [CFU], respectively). The operator then performed catheterization of the anatomical model. The most relevant segments of the catheter were sampled, and the level of microbial transfer and catheter contamination was quantified. Results from experimental and sample replicates from the 3 microbial species and 5 catheters (sleeved and unsleeved) were analyzed by pair-wise t tests and analysis of variance. Of the 5 commercially available sleeved intermittent catheters evaluated in this study, use of catheters with multiple protective components (ring cap, introducer tip, and catheter sleeve) resulted in significant improvement in protection against contamination with a 25- to 2500-fold lower level of microbial contamination (C1 segment) across all species as compared to catheters protected with only sleeves or un-sleeved catheters. The combination of a ring cap, protective introducer tip, and protective sleeve provides additional protection when compared to sleeve alone from transferring microbial contamination from the meatus to the advancing catheter. Additional research is needed to determine whether these design features result in fewer urinary tract infections among intermittent catheter users.

Sellado antibiótico de reservorios subcutáneos: estabilidad de soluciones con vancomicina

Subcutaneous reservoirs are a type of central venous catheter. When using central venous catheters, healthcare workers need to avoid two major risks: clot formation and bacterial infections. To prevent and avoid catheter contamination in both hospitalized patients and outpatients, several strategies have been carried out, such as the so-called ” antibiotic-based catheter lock solution”. Therefore, it has been suggested to implement the use of solutions with antimicrobial agents, to which anticoagulant and/or antibiofilm substances are often added. However, the stability of such solutions needs to be tested by techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), in addition to antimicrobial efficacy testing, in order to establish patient safety. In consequence, this literature review aims to include the most clinically representative research towards these aspects, to demonstrate the behaviour of antibiotic-based catheter lock solutions under different conditions of storage and use. In particular, this review focuses on solutions containing vancomycin. According to the studies consulted, vancomycin solutions with sodium citrate (chelating agent) present the best stability characteristics in terms of physicochemical properties and efficacy.. Keywords: Vancomycin; heparin; sodium citrate; stability; subcutaneous implantable central venous device

Ultrasound guidance practices used for the placement of vascular accesses in intensive care units: an observational multicentre study

BackgroundCentral catheters expose ICU patients at risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections. A mechanism by which these infections occur is the contamination of the catheter during its insertion if aseptic techniques are not strictly applied. Recent studies suggest that the use of ultrasound guidance (USG) may increase the risk of catheter contamination during insertion. We assessed current practices regarding the use of USG during catheter insertion, with a focus on identifying breaches of the surgical asepsis required for this invasive procedure.MethodsIn 26 intensive care units, we evaluated the use of USG during catheter insertion, using a questionnaire addressed to intensivists and direct observation of their practices.ResultsWe analyzed 111 questionnaires and 36 observations of intensivists placing catheters. The questionnaires revealed that 88% of intensivists used USG for catheter insertion. Among those using USG, 56% had received specific training, 17% benefited from specific recommendations, 76% marked the insertion site before skin antisepsis, and during catheter insertion, 96% used sterile gel and 100% used a sterile sheath and sterile gloves. We identified potential deviations from strict aseptic technique, including contact between the sheath and the needle (19.4%), handling of the US system during catheter insertion (2.8%), and use of sterile devices, where they were not yet necessary (during the marking site or skin antisepsis), resulting in their contamination at the time of catheter insertion.ConclusionsInterventions aimed at ensuring compliance with measures to prevent CRBs should be organized to prevent an increase in infections associated with US-guided catheter insertion.

The relationship between microbial contaminations of embryo transfer catheters with pregnancy outcome after embryo transfer.

Different stages of assisted reproductive technologies are susceptible to contamination by various microorganisms. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between microbial contamination of embryo transfer catheters and the pregnancy outcome after embryo transfer. This cohort study was conducted on 60 patients candied for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles from 2021 to 2022. All embryos were transferred using a sterile syringe. The catheter contamination was checked by the microbial culture method, and in the case of microbial culture that were negative, polymerase chain reaction was done to confirm the result. The data analyzed using STATA 17 to determine the impact of catheter contamination on the clinical pregnancy rate. The average age of peoples whose microbial culture was positive was lower than that of people whose microbial culture was negative (P<0.05). Also the results showed that people who live in villages have more positive microbial cultures than people who live in cities (P<0.05). Also there is no difference between the number of successful implantations and the pregnancy outcome between people whose microbial culture results were positive or negative. The results of the current study showed that the contamination of the embryo transfer catheter with microorganisms under our investigation did not affect the pregnancy outcome.

Magnetic Soft Robot for Minimally Invasive Urethral Catheter Biofilm Eradication.

Catheter-related biofilm infection remains the main problem for millions of people annually, affecting morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Despite the recent advances in the prevention of biofilm formation, alternative methods for biofilm prevention or eradication still should be found to avoid traumatic and expensive removal or catheter replacement. Soft magnetic robots have drawn significant interest in favor of remote control, fast response, and wide space for design. In this work, we demonstrated magnetic soft robots as a minimally invasive, safe, and effective approach to eliminate biofilm from urethral catheters (20 Fr or 5.1 mm in diameter). Seven designs of the robot were fabricated (size 4.5 × 15 mm), characterized, and tested in the presence of a rotating magnetic field. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated the superior efficiency of biofilm removal on the model of a urethral catheter using a magnetic robot, reaching full eradication for the octagram-shaped robot (velocity 2.88 ± 0.6 mm/s) at a 15 Hz frequency and a 10 mT amplitude. These findings are helpful for the treatment of biofilm-associated catheter contamination, which allows an increase in the catheter wearing time without frequent replacement and treatment of catheter-associated infections.

The potential role of through the needle PIVC insertion in reducing early catheter contamination.

Over-the-needle (OTN) PIVC devices are at inherent risk of insertion related skin contamination. Through-the-needle (TTN) catheter deployment resulted in no measurable contamination in this study. OTN catheters were 1.67 times more likely to be contaminated than TTN in this study. To compare a traditional over-the-needle peripheral intravenous catheter device to a through-the-needle (TTN) peripheral intravenous catheter device for early bacterial contamination during insertion. Five TTN test devices (OspreyIV 20 g SkyDance Vascular, Inc) and 5 OTN comparative devices (Insyte Autoguard 20 g Becton Dickinson) were aseptically inserted through targeted zones inoculated with 1 mL aliquot suspension of approximately 1 × 10 CFU of Staphylococcus aureus among 3 healthy sheep. Immediately after insertion, each study catheter was surgically removed from the surrounding tissue and cultured for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus inoculum that may have been transferred to the catheter during insertion. Final culture results of the 5 test articles found no bacterial colonies. Final culture results of the 5 comparative articles revealed 2 of 5 were contaminated with bacterial colonies. The absolute risk reduction is 40%, or a 40% rate of contamination drops to a 0% rate of contamination when the TTN catheter deployment was used. The risk ratio achieved was 1.67, indicating catheters placed using the OTN deployment were 1.67 times more like to be contaminated than the TTN deployed catheters. In this present ovine study, the data revealed that use of a novel TTN approach resulted in less contamination than the more traditional OTN approach. Traditional OTN devices, developed over 70 years ago, are at inherent risk of insertion-related contact contamination. The results of this research, as well as previously published studies, point toward considering physical catheter protection strategies such as TTN devices as a potential alternative to OTN devices.

Deposition of Daldinia starbaeckii (ELF) functionalized silver nanoparticles on urinary catheter tube using chitosan polymer to prevent microbial biofilms formation during UTI infection.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are the most common healthcare problem in hospitals. In this study, we isolated the Daldinia starbaeckii (An endolichenic fungus from Roccella montagnie) and its biomass extract were used to simultaneously synthesize and deposit DSFAgNPs on the inner and outer surfaces of the catheter tube using chitosan biopolymer via In-situ deposition method. Perfectly designed D. starbaeckii extract functionalized DSFAgNPs were characterized by UV spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDS, TEM, and XRD. The microbial efficacy of DSFAgNPs & DSFAgNPs coated catheter (CTH3) was evaluated against eight human pathogenic gram (+ / -) ive strains and Candida albicans. Results indicated DSFAgNPs showed significant biological activity against both gram (+ / -) ive bacteria with an average MIC90 of 4µl/ml. The most promising activity was observed against Helicobacter pylori. When bacteria strains allow to grow with CTH3 we reported significant reduction in colony formation unit (CFU/ml) in broth culture assay with an average 70% inhibition. Further, antibiofilm activity of CTH3 against P. aeruginosa showed strong inhibition of biofilm formation (85%). The study explored an alternate approach for significantly prevent CAUTI among hospital patients. We isolated an endolichenic fungus from lichen Roccella montagnei. The molecular characterization of fungus identified as Daldinia starbaeckii (DSF). The DSF was cultured and its fungal biomass exudes were used to simultaneously construct DSF-AgNPs and its deposition on the catheter surface using biopolymer chitosan via In-situ deposition method. Further, antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of DSF-AgNPs was checked against urinary catheter contaminating and human pathogenic bacterial strains. Based on our research, we determined that DSF-AgNPs coating on a urinary catheter through this method is a cost-effective, eco-friendly approach to prevent catheter contamination.

Central venous catheter contamination rate in suspected sepsis patients: an observational clinical study

More than 160,000 central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are estimated for Europe each year, leading to about 25,000 deaths. To characterize the contamination of administration sets in suspected CLABSI cases in the intensive care unit (ICU). In ICU patients (from February 2017 to February 2018) with suspected CLABSI, all sampled central venous catheters (CVCs) were examined in four segments (from CVC tip to connected tubing systems) for contamination. A risk factor analysis using binary logistic regression was performed. Fifty-two consecutively sampled CVCs with 1004 elements were analysed with 45 elements being positive for at least one micro-organism (4.48%). There was a significant association with the duration of catheterization (P= 0.038, N= 50) with a daily increase of contamination risk by 11.5% (odds ratio: 1.115). The mean number of CVC manipulations was 40 within 72h (standard deviation: 20.5), with no association with contamination risk (P= 0.381). The contamination risk of the CVC segments decreased from proximal to distal. Non-replaceable components of the CVC had a high risk (14 times higher; P= 0.01). A significant positive correlation was detected between positive tip cultures and microbial growth in the administration set (r(49)= 0.437; P= 0.001). Although only a minority of CLABSI-suspect patients had positive blood cultures, the contamination rate of CVCs and administration set was high, possibly indicating a relevant underreporting. The finding of identical species in adjacent segments underlines the role of upward or downward spread of micro-organisms within the tubes; therefore, aseptic tasks should be emphasized.

The Potential Role of through the Needle PIVC Insertion in Reducing Early Catheter Contamination

HighlightsAbstractAim:To compare a traditional over-the-needle peripheral intravenous catheter device to a through-the-needle (TTN) peripheral intravenous catheter device for early bacterial contamination during insertion.Methods:Five TTN test devices (OspreyIV 20g SkyDance Vascular, Inc) and 5 OTN comparative devices (Insyte Autoguard 20g Becton Dickinson) were aseptically inserted through targeted zones inoculated with 1 mL aliquot suspension of approximately 1 × 10 CFU of Staphylococcus aureus among 3 healthy sheep. Immediately after insertion, each study catheter was surgically removed from the surrounding tissue and cultured for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus inoculum that may have been transferred to the catheter during insertion.Results:Final culture results of the 5 test articles found no bacterial colonies. Final culture results of the 5 comparative articles revealed 2 of 5 were contaminated with bacterial colonies. The absolute risk reduction is 40%, or a 40% rate of contamination drops to a 0% rate of contamination when the TTN catheter deployment was used. The risk ratio achieved was 1.67, indicating catheters placed using the OTN deployment were 1.67 times more like to be contaminated than the TTN deployed catheters.Conclusion:In this present ovine study, the data revealed that use of a novel TTN approach resulted in less contamination than the more traditional OTN approach. Traditional OTN devices, developed over 70 years ago, are at inherent risk of insertion-related contact contamination. The results of this research, as well as previously published studies, point toward considering physical catheter protection strategies such as TTN devices as a potential alternative to OTN devices.

Comparative study of microbial colonization of catheters for prolonged regional anesthesia when using different fixation methods

BACKGROUND: Infectious complications related to prolonged epidural and peripheral regional anesthesia are quite rare. However, this does not exclude the necessity of strict adherence to measures aimed at preventing microbial colonization of catheters for regional anesthesia. Microbial colonization of the catheter is not always accompanied by the development of infectious complications but increases the likelihood of their occurrence.&#x0D; AIM: To determine the frequency of colonization, the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora depending on the various methods of fixing of the catheter and the duration of its use.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: 76 patients from 2 to 18 years old with prolonged epidural or peripheral anesthesia were included in an comparative, prospective, randomized, single-center study. Patients were divided into the groups according to the method of catheter fixation - adhesive sticker (AS), adhesive sticker and antimicrobial coating Desitol B (AS+D) and tunneling (T). Determination of microbial contamination of catheters was carried out using classical bacteriological studies.&#x0D; RESULTS: None of the 76 patients had signs of a local or systemic infection. The difference in the frequency of colonization between the AS and T groups was statistically significant: 2 (1, n = 54) = 5.5381 (p = 0.018), between the AS and AS+D groups it was not significant. The relative risk of colonization of the skin of the catheter with adhesive fixation was 2.14 times higher than with catheter tunneling: RR = 2.14, p = 0.05 (95% CI 1.04.49). In the AS+D group, colonization of both the skin and the inner part of the catheter was observed significantly earlier than in the T group: skin part: U = 5.5; Ucr = 8 (p = 0.02); inner part: U = 5.5; Ucr = 6 (p = 0.04). The growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis (48.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (20.7%) was fixed mainly when positive results of microbiological culture takes place.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: Tunneling is the preferred method of fixation of the catheter when the postoperative pain relief period is more than 3 days.

Suppression of bacterial rheotaxis in wavy channels

Controlling the swimming behavior of bacteria is crucial, for example, to prevent contamination of ducts and catheters. We show that bacteria modeled by deformable microswimmers can accumulate in flows through straight microchannels either in their center or on previously unknown attractors near the channel walls. In flows through wavy microchannels we predict a resonance effect for semiflexible microswimmers. As a result, microswimmers can be deflected in a controlled manner so that they swim in modulated channels distributed over the channel cross section rather than localized near the wall or the channel center. Thus, depending on the flow amplitude, both upstream orientation of swimmers and their accumulation at the boundaries, which can promote surface rheotaxis, are suppressed. Our results suggest strategies for controlling the behavior of live and synthetic swimmers in microchannels.

Patient information video: How to take care of your child after hypospadias surgery?

Patient/parent education and participation helps improve post-operative care. Dressing and catheter care after hypospadias surgery varies widely and young parents are keen to use available media when seeking for help, especially if surgery is done in an outpatient setting. An information video about post-operative care after hypospadias is made available through a tertiary referral hospital's website. Hypospadias surgery is an outpatient surgery in our setting. A double diaper system is used to prevent contamination of the urinary catheter and penile bandage with stools. A video explaining how the dressing works was made, helping parents maintaining the dressing and thereby solving possible questions/problems about dressing or medications while at home. Warning signs and symptoms are mentioned in which case parents should contact the urologist: fever, continuous blood loss and lack of urinary output. An information folder summarizing the latter, including a link to the video is given to all parents pre-operatively, providing reassurance according to parents' feedback. Parent participation can help improve post-operative care, especially in outpatient clinic setting. This video helps parents through post-operative care after hypospadias surgery. Its availability through informative folders and hospital's website is destined to educate and reassure parents.

The Urethral Microbiome During Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement

ABSTRACT Introduction Foley catheter placement prior to inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation permits drainage of the bladder to ensure safe retropubic reservoir placement and allows for palpation of the urethra to prevent inadvertent injury. The urethra is often colonized with commensal organisms mostly concentrated at the meatus and fossa navicularis to which the Foley catheter is exposed during placement. Following placement, the catheter remains on the sterile field during surgery. Objective We sought to investigate if the microbiome of the urethra could contaminate the Foley catheter during IPP placement. Methods Data was retrospectively reviewed on all patients who underwent three-piece IPP placement at a single institution from 2/2020 to 6/2021. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and comorbidities were recorded. Culture swabs from the fossa navicularis and exposed Foley catheter were collected intra-operatively after Foley catheter placement. Growth of aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal organisms was assessed. Univariate analyses with chi-square tests were performed to compare baseline demographic and clinical data with isolation of organisms from culture swabs. Results A total of 50 patients were included in this study. All surgeries were performed via penoscrotal approach by a single surgeon. 22% (n = 11) were revision procedures, all of which were due to mechanical device malfunction. The median age of our cohort was 66.5 years (range: 42-78 years) and 30% (n = 15) had a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Three patients (6%) were current smokers and 46% (n = 23) were diabetic. Two patients (4%) had isolation of aerobic organisms and five patients (10%) had isolation of anaerobic organisms. No patients had isolation of fungal organisms. There was no statistically significant relationship between obese BMI, diabetes diagnosis, or current smoking and the isolation of organisms. Three patients (6%) ultimately developed a device infection; notably, none of these patients had isolation of organisms from their culture swabs at initial implant. Conclusions A number of patients had isolation of aerobic and anaerobic organisms from their intra-operatively collected urethral swabs, but none of these patients have currently shown evidence of a device infection. This is the first study to examine the urethral microbiome and its potential effect on Foley catheter contamination at the time of IPP placement. Further study is needed to determine if this could be a significant source of device infection. Disclosure No

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Staphylococcus xylosus&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Isolation of Conjunctival Secretions in an 8-Year-Old Child at Sikasso Hospital (Mali): About a Case

Staphylococcus xylosus is a species of bacteria belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. This genus currently includes several species and subspecies. We distinguish between 2 groups: the group of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), a larger group that includes more than forty species and subspecies. Among the CoNS, Staphylococcus xylosus occupies a special place because it is frequently isolated from meats, dairy products, and agricultural environments. It is commonly used in fermentation due to its primary role in the flavor and color development of fermented products. It is a commensal bacterium of the skin of small mammals and farm animals, where it constitutes the majority of flora. In this species, there are a large number of strains, including phenotypes and genotypes. Although S. xylosus is actually a recognized non-pathogenic species, a few strains can be potentially dangerous. They can thus be responsible for mastitis and dermatitis in cattle. With the multiplicity of breeding farms, the consumption of livestock products and the increasingly frequent contact of humans with animals a few rare cases of human opportunistic infections have also been reported in the literature. These include pyelonephritis, endocarditis, urinary, lymphatic, and lymph node infections, contamination of orthopedic materials and catheters. Thereby, we report the case of a lingering and chronic infection of the lacrimal tract by Staphylococcus xylosus in an 8-year-old child in the Ophthalmology Department of Sikasso hospital in Mali.

Comparison of clinical and cost effectiveness of accelerated study of sterility of intravascular catheters and drains

The results of a new method for detecting the contamination of intravascular catheters and drains are presented to assess its clinical and cost-effectiveness. Catheters are one of the most widely used devices in critically ill patients. The insertion of a catheter into the central venous system is an invasive procedure that can potentially lead to life-threatening complications for the patient. Catheters are a gateway for infection as they connect the external environment to the internal parts of the human body, causing catheter-associated infections. More than 15 % of patients with an established IVC develop complications, of which the most frequent and requiring removal of the vascular catheter are infectious (5–26 %) and mechanical (up to 25 %). Risk factors for catheter-associated conditions are crucial for hospital mortality.