Preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections from a central venous catheter

Placement of catheters for venous access provides a standard method to deliver a variety of therapies for hospitalised patients and are commonplace in veterinary care today. Central venous catheters are useful for administering multiple fluids and drugs that are incompatible, high osmolality fluids without causing phlebitis, obtaining frequent blood samples without performing venepuncture each time, delivering parenteral nutrition solutions, measuring central venous pressure, analysing central venous blood saturation, and are used for renal replacement therapy. Contraindications to central line placement include patients at increased risk of thrombosis and hypocoagulation.

Despite their usefulness, placement of venous access catheters is accompanied by the potential of causing local phlebitis and hospital-acquired infections called catheterrelated bloodstream infection (CRBSI). CRBSI is a result of microorganisms being introduced through skin contaminants during placement or contamination of infused fluids or internal surfaces of the intravenous line leading to bacteraemia, and care should be taken during the placement and maintenance of catheters to minimise the chance of its occurrence.