Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections in the Intensive Care Units

Catheter-related bloodstream infection, also referred to as catheter-related sepsis, is characterized by the presence of bacteremia that originates from an intravenous catheter. This particular medical condition is well-known for its high prevalence, severity, and significant financial implications, especially concerning central venous catheterization. Furthermore, it is identified as the leading cause of nosocomial bacteremia within healthcare settings. Despite the escalating use of central venous catheters (CVC), there exists credible data suggesting that the incidence of CRBSI is reducible through appropriate measures. Typically, CRBSI is detected in approximately 3% of catheterizations; however, the rate has the potential to surge substantially to as high as 16%, resulting in a range of 2–30 episodes per 1000 catheter days. While CRBSI may theoretically originate from peripheral intravenous (I.V) and intra-arterial cannulas, such occurrences are infrequent in practice. Notably, pulmonary artery catheters exhibit a comparable CRBSI rate to central venous catheters (CVCs), whereas dialysis catheters demonstrate a significantly higher prevalence, reaching 29% in a specific series.