Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of using an indwelling introducer on diagnosis of Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter colonization

  • Notes
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted to determine how the use of an indwelling introducer influences the diagnosis of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) colonization. Sixty-six consecutive PACs and introducers were aseptically removed over a 15-month period. Two segments of the catheter and the catheter tip (a proximal segment from the portion of the catheter beneath the introducer) and two segments of the introducer (a proximal intradermal segment and the introducer tip) were cultured using a semiquantitative technique. Nineteen of 66 (28.7%) PACs showed colonization, representing an incidence of 5.6 episodes per 100 catheterization-days. Catheter tip cultures identified only 68% of colonized PACs; this yield rose to 91% when introducer tip cultures were added. These results indicate a need to evaluate both introducer tip cultures and catheter tip cultures for an accurate diagnosis of PAC colonization when an indwelling introducer is used.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Swan HJC, Ganz W, Forrester J: Catheterization of the heart in man with use of a flow directed balloon-tipped catheter. New England Journal of Medicine 1970, 283: 447–451.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Michel L, Marsh HM, McMichan JC, Southorn PA, Brewer NS:Infection of pulmonary artery catheters in critically ill patients. Journal of the American Medical Association 1981, 245: 1032–1036.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Miller JJ, Venus B, Mathru M: Comparison of the sterility of long-term central venous catheterization using single lumen, triple lumen and pulmonary artery catheters. Critical Care Medicine 1984, 12: 634–637.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Pinilla JC, Ross DF, Martin T: Study of the incidence of intravascular catheter infection and associated septicemia in critically ill patients. Critical Care Medicine 1983, 11: 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Myers ML, Austin TW, Sibbald WJ: Pulmonary artery catheter infections. Annals of Surgery 1985, 201: 237–241.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Passerini L, Phang PT, Jackson FL, Lam K, Costerton JW, King EJ: Biofilms on right heart flow-directed catheters. Chest 1987, 82: 440–446.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mermel LA, McCormick RD, Springman SR, Maki DG: The pathogenesis and epidemiology of catheter-related infection with pulmonary artery Swan-Ganz catheters: a prospective study utilizing molecular subtyping. American Journal of Medicine 1991, 91, Supplement 3B: 197–205.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Heard SO, Davis RF, Sherertz RJ, Mikhail MS, Gallgher RL, Layon AJ, Gallagher TJ: Influence of sterile protective sleeves on the sterility of pulmonary artery catheters. Critical Care Medicine 1987, 15: 499–503.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hudson-Civetta JA, Civetta JM, Martinez OV, Hoffman TA: Risk and detection of pulmonary artery catheter-related infection in septic surgical patients. Critical Care Medicine 1987, 15: 29–34.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bilen Z, Weinberg PF, Gowani Y, Cohen IL, Socaris S, Fein IA: Clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of protective sleeve pulmonary artery catheters. Critical Care Medicine 1991, 19: 491–496.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Maki DG, Weise CE, Sarafin HW: A semiquantitative culture method for identifying intravenous-catheter-related infection. New England Journal of Medicine 1977, 296: 1305–1309.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Coob DK, High KP, Sawyer RG, Sable CA, Adams RB, Lindley DA, Pruett TL, Schwenzer KJ, Farr BM: A controlled trial of scheduled replacement of central venous and pulmonary-artery catheters. New England Journal of Medicine 1992, 327: 1062–1068.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Baila JC III, Mosteller, F: Medical uses of statistics. New England Journal of Medicine Books, Boston, 1992, p. 233–280.

  14. Rello J, Coll P, Net A, Prats G: Infection of pulmonary artery catheters. Epidemiologic characteristics and multivariate analysis of risk factors. Chest 1993, 103: 132–136.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rello J, Coll P, Prats G: Evaluation of culture techniques for diagnosis of catheter-related sepsis in critically ill patients. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 1992, 11: 1192–1193.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Hospital de Sabadell, Parc Taulí s/n, 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Vallés, J. Rello, F. Baigorri, P. Saura & A. Artigas

  2. Department of Microbiology, Hospital de Sabadell, Parc Taulí s/n, 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain

    L. Matas & D. Fontanals

Authors
  1. J. Vallés
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Rello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Matas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Fontanals
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. Baigorri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. P. Saura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Artigas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vallés, J., Rello, J., Matas, L. et al. Impact of using an indwelling introducer on diagnosis of Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter colonization. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 15, 71–75 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01586188

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01586188

Keywords

Search

Navigation