Accessi Venosi Centrali in ICU: CVC medicati vs CVC non medicati

Severa] studies have demonstrated that using antiseptic/ antibiotic impregnateci CVCs can significantly reduce BSis (Bloodstream infections) in short-term catheters. To assess the effects of inorganic silver impregnateci CVCs in reducing the incidence of BSis, we have conduced a randomised preliminary study on the critically ili patients, hospitalised in the ICU of Policlinico Universitario of Messina. We have placed 50 triple-lumen standard CVCs and 50 triple-lumen inorganic silver impregnateci CVCs. We have obtained these results: bacterial colonization in 24% of not-impregnated CVCs (12/50) and in 6% of impregnateci CVCs (3/ 50); sepsis in 8% of not-impregnated CVCs ( 4/ 50) an d in 2% of impregnateci CVCs. On these preliminary results we can be confident on the effectiveness of inorganic silver impregnateci catheters to reduce catheter-related BSis.