01 Sep Arterial Catheters Remain Source of Hospital Associated Infections

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Leonard Mermel, DO, ScM, AM (Hon), FSHEA, FIDSA, FACP 
Professor of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Medical Director, Dept. of Epidemiology & Infection Control, Rhode Island Hospital
Adjunct Clinical Professor, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Mermel: Arterial catheters are an under recognized source of hospital-associated bloodstream infection. As a result, arterial catheter infection prevention strategies are less well studied than with central lines.  We did a national survey and our findings reaffirmed the fact that physicians using these catheters underestimate the risk of infection.  Additionally and not surprisingly, infection prevention strategies are variable particularly concerning barrier precautions at insertion.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Mermel: Arterial catheters can cause catheter-related bloodstream infections.  These devices should be aseptically inserted and managed post-insertion and removed as soon as no longer required for patient care.  We are also in need of better studies to clearly delineate the ideal infection prevention strategies with these catheters based on our understanding of the pathogenesis of such infections. 

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Mermel: Large, randomized trial assessing barrier precautions at insertion.

Citation:

Arterial Catheter Use in the ICU

Cohen, David M. MD; Carino, Gerardo P. MD, PhD; Heffernan, Daithi S. MD; Lueckel, Stephanie N. MD; Mazer, Jeffrey MD; Skierkowski, Dorothy MA; Machan, Jason T. PhD; Mermel, Leonard A. DO, ScM; Levinson, Andrew T. MD, MPH

doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001250

Critical Care Medicine August 2015

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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, & Leonard Mermel, DO, ScM (2015). Arterial Catheters Remain Source of Hospital Associated Infections 

Last Updated on September 1, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD