OBJECTIVE: Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common healthcare associated infection. A significant knowledge gap exists regarding the necessity of catheter replacement as part of CAUTI treatment. Current guidelines recommend replacement for faster recovery and to prevent recurrences, but adherence is low. In this systematic review, we aimed to assess the available evidence regarding catheter replacement for CAUTI.
METHODS: Eligible studies investigated the effect of catheter replacement in CAUTI on clinical outcomes and/or recurrence rates, irrespective of catheter type or setting. We searched electronic literature databases from inception to October 15th, 2023. Information was extracted regarding setting, eligibility criteria, definition of CAUTI, timing of replacement, and outcomes.
RESULTS: Of the 257 identified studies, four were considered relevant and included. Two were randomized controlled trials (RCT) and two were observational studies. One RCT showed higher rates of clinical recovery and lower recurrence rates in the replacement group, while results of the other RCT favoured retainment, with a lower recurrence rate in the retainment group, although longer antimicrobial treatment in this group. Two observational studies were inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS: Current guidelines rely heavily on recommendations from a single study, emphasizing the need for further research. The burden of catheter replacement, including patient discomfort and resource impact, warrants careful consideration. A randomized trial is essential to provide more evidence on the effect of catheter replacement on clinical outcomes including CAUTI recurrence.

The perivalvular cardiac abscess is a severe condition associated with infective endocarditis, leading to significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and managed promptly. Neurological complications, particularly stroke, can occur due to embolic events resulting from cardiac abscesses. A 63-year-old female with end-stage renal disease and multiple comorbidities presented with altered mental status. Imaging revealed acute ischemic infarcts in the frontotemporal lobes, suggesting the embolic phenomenon. Blood cultures grew Enterococcus faecalis, and an echocardiogram showed severe aortic valve destruction with perivalvular abscess. Cardiac abscesses can cause severe complications, including tissue destruction, valve damage, and embolic events. Echocardiography is crucial for diagnosis, detecting vegetation, and assessing associated complications. Transthoracic echocardiography is reliable but has limitations, whereas transesophageal echocardiography is highly sensitive. Prompt antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention are crucial for treatment. Early initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention is crucial for positive outcomes. The choice of treatment should be individualized based on the patient\'s specific condition and the medical team\'s expertise.

UNASSIGNED: The risk of peripheral venous catheter (PVC) infections in inpatients is often underestimated, even if it is lower than that for central venous catheters. Guidelines for the prevention of PVC-associated infections describe the evidence-based management of PVCs. The aims of this study were the development of standardized methods for compliance assessment regarding PVC management and the evaluation of self-reported knowledge and implementations among healthcare providers regarding PVC care.
UNASSIGNED: We developed a checklist based on the recommendation of the Commission of Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention at the Robert Koch Institute (KRINKO) Berlin for the standardized evaluation of PVC management. The following parameters were collected and evaluated: condition of the puncture site, condition of the bandage, presence of an extension set, presence of a plug, and documentation. The checklist was applied in 14 normal wards in 2019. After feedback of the ward staff on the results, it was applied again in 2020 in the same wards. For retrospective data analysis, we used a newly developed PVC-quality index. After the second evaluation in 2020, we carried out an anonymous survey among the healthcare providers.
UNASSIGNED: The evaluation of 627 indwelling PVCs showed a significant increase in compliance related to the presence of an extension set (p=0.049) and documentation (p<0.001) in the 2nd year. The quality index increased in 12 out of 14 wards. The participants of the survey were aware of the in-house standard \"Prevention of vascular catheter-associated infections\", with a mean score of 4.98 on a Likert scale (1=not aware, 7=completely aware). The main barrier to implementation of the preventive measures was the time factor. Survey participants were more aware of PVC placement than PVC care.
UNASSIGNED: The PVC quality index is a valuable tool for the assessment of compliance regarding PVC management in daily practice. Feedback from the ward staff on the results of compliance assessment improves PVC management, but the outcome is very heterogeneous.
UNASSIGNED: Das Infektionsrisiko von peripheren Venenkathetern (PVK) bei stationären Patienten wird, auch wenn es niedriger ist als das von zentralen Venenkathetern, häufig unterschätzt. Leitlinien zur Prävention von PVK-assoziierten Infektionen beinhalten Evidenz-basierte Maßnahmen zur Anlage, Pflege und Nutzung von liegenden PVK. Ziel dieser Studie war, ein Verfahren zur standardisierten Bewertung der Compliance im Umgang mit liegenden PVK zu entwickeln und zu testen. Außerdem sollte eine Selbsteinschätzung des Personals zu Kenntnis und Umsetzung der Präventionsmaßnahmen erhoben werden.
UNASSIGNED: Basierend auf den KRINKO-Empfehlungen wurde eine Checkliste zur standardisierten Bewertung der Umsetzung von Präventionsmaßnahmen bei liegenden PVK entwickelt. Folgende Parameter wurden erhoben und bewertet: Zustand der Punktionsstelle, Zustand des Verbands, Vorhandensein eines Extensionssets, Verschluss, Nutzung und Dokumentation der Maßnahmen. Die Checkliste wurde erstmals im Jahr 2019 auf 14 Normalstationen angewendet und nach Feedback der Ergebnisse erneut im Jahr 2020 auf denselben Stationen eingesetzt. Mithilfe eines neu entwickelten PVK-Qualitätsindex erfolgte ein retrospektiver Vergleich. Nach der 2. Bewertung wurde eine anonyme Mitarbeiterbefragung mittels Fragebogen durchgeführt.
UNASSIGNED: Bei der Bewertung von 627 liegenden PVK zeigte sich eine signifikante Steigerung der Compliance bezogen auf das Vorhandensein eines Extensionssets (p=0,049) und die Dokumentation (p<0,001) im 2. Jahr. Der Qualitätsindex ist auf 12 der 14 beobachteten Stationen gestiegen. Die Bekanntheit einzelner Maßnahmen des hausinternen Standards „Prävention gefäßkatheterassoziierter Infektionen“ wurde mit dem Mittelwert 4,98 von 7 auf einer Likert-Skala angegeben; als einziges Hindernis in der Umsetzung konnte der Faktor Zeit identifiziert werden. Maßnahmen bei PVK-Anlage waren zu einem höheren Anteil bekannt als Maßnahmen der PVK-Pflege.
UNASSIGNED: Der PVK-Qualitätsindex ist erfolgreich angewendet worden und ist geeignet, die PVK-bezogene Compliance standardisiert zu erheben. Feedback der Compliance im Umgang mit PVK hat diese verbessert, aber der Effekt ist sehr heterogen.

UNASSIGNED: Central line complications remain a problem in critical care patient populations. Various interventions to prevent or treat complications, such as central line-associated bloodstream infection and occlusion, have been the focus of recent research. Although alternative catheter locking solutions have been shown to be effective in other patient populations, their applicability to the critical care setting remains unclear. Due to the high acuity of critical care patients, it is uncertain whether their central lines remain locked for a duration long enough for alternative locking solutions to provide any effect.
UNASSIGNED: This single-centre, prospective, observational study aimed to gather information about the length of time central line lumens remain in a locked state in the average critical care patient. Baseline rates of various central line complications were also tracked.
UNASSIGNED: Results of this study indicate that the majority of central lines will have at least one lumen locked for an average of 36.6% of their time in situ.
UNASSIGNED: It is anticipated that this length of time provides enough exposure for alternative locking solutions to potentially make a difference in central line complications in this patient population. Results of this study can be used for planning future multi-centre, randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of novel central line locking solutions to prevent central line complications in critically ill patients.

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are becoming common and effective in acute and critical care settings recently. Burn patients need special considerations because of restricted insertion sites, burn wounds, hyper coagulation, high infection rates and others. However, the safety of PICCs in burn patients are not well elucidated and no related protocol has been formed. This study aims to investigate the thrombosis and infections of PICCs in burn patients.
This was a single center retrospective study and a systematic review. All the burn patients with PICCs between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 were included. A systematic search of Medline, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science was performed from inception to 4 June 2021 following PRISMA guidelines. Upper extremity vein thrombosis (UEVT) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) were the main outcome.
A total of 85 successful PICCs in 78 patients were included. Most patients were male (79.5%), adults(80.8%) and injured by flame(74.4%). The mean TBSA was 50.3% and 76.9% of patients had TBSA more than 30%. Most PICCs were punctured once (60.0%) and inserted less than 30 days after injury (80.0%) through basilar vein (70.6%). The overall line days were 2195 days and the mean line days was 25.8 ± 18.3 days. Six PICCs were complicated by UEVT (7.1%) in 21.2 ± 17.3 days after insertion. Patients with UEVT had significantly higher rate of bacteremia and later insertions than those without UEVT. One patient developed CLABSI and the CLABSI rate was 1.2% and 0.5 per 1000 line days. Six PICCs had catheter colonization. No significant risk factors were identified. Five articles involving 293 patients and 319 PICCs were ultimately evaluated in systematic review. The overall incidence of UEVT was 3.2% and CLABSI was 6.9% in burn populations.
PICCs in burn patients had acceptable incidence of UEVT and CLABSI with relative long line durations. A standardized PICC guideline for burn patients is required to further improve the feasibility and safety of PICCs.

Acinetobacter ursingii is an anaerobic gram negative opportunistic coccobacillus, rarely isolated in bacteremic patients. It is mainly found in immunocompromised and severely ill patients with no identifiable source of infection. When isolated into the bloodstream, it usually displays resistance to at least two antimicrobial agents. To date only seven cases of bacteremia due to this microorganism have been reported in adults, of which, this accounts for the second one associated to renal replacement therapy and the first case of a documented catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) in a patient with a hemodialysis catheter. A 78-year-old male presented into the emergency department with acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis, later developing bacteremia due to Acinetobacter ursingii.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant, Gramnegative, and biofilm-forming pathogen. Information is limited concerning S. maltophilia bacteremia in children. Clinical data and microbiological test results collected in a tertiary children\'s hospital over a ten-year period were reviewed. Children 0-18 years old who had positive clinical specimen, blood and/or catheter cultures were included. We identified 20 S. maltophilia isolates from 12 pediatric patients with confirmed infections. The median age was 28 months (range: 3.1-187.3). The rate of previous use of antimicrobial therapy was 83 %. The median antibiotic number was 3 (range: 0-7) within 30 days prior to onset of S. maltophilia bacteremia. Catheter related infection was the main infectious source (66.6 %). The mortality rate was 33.3 %. The death of two non-survivors was associated with pneumonia. S. maltophilia should be considered a breakthrough agent for bacteremia in children with underlying disease exposed to broad-spectrum antibiotics during long-term hospitalization.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia es un microorganismo gramnegativo, multirresistente. La información sobre la bacteriemia por S. maltophilia en niños es limitada. Se revisaron los datos de 10 años de un hospital de niños de alta complejidad. Se incluyó a niños de 0 a 18 años con hemocultivos o cultivos del catéter positivos. Se identificaron 20 cepas de S. maltophilia en 12 niños con infección confirmada, cuya mediana de edad fue 28 meses (intervalo: 3,1-187,3). El índice de antibioticoterapia previa fue 83 %, con una mediana de tres antibióticos (intervalo: 0–7) en los 30 días previos a la bacteriemia por S. maltophilia. La infección relacionada con el catéter fue la principal fuente de infección (8/12). La mortalidad fue de 4/12; y en dos casos, estuvo asociada con neumonía. S. maltophilia puede considerarse un agente muy invasivo productor de bacteriemia en niños con enfermedad preexistente expuestos a antibióticos durante una hospitalización prolongada.

BACKGROUND: Reliable long-term central venous access device (CVAD) is essential for the management of pediatric patients with cancer or chronic diseases. However, there is no general consensus for optimal catheter tip location and vessel insertion site in children.
OBJECTIVE: This single center study analyzes the risk of complications associated with long-term upper body CVAD and evaluates them with respect to catheter tip location as well as vessel insertion site.
METHODS: Pediatric patients who received long-term upper body CVAD from January 2008 through April 2017 and underwent radiographic documentation of the tip location were retrospectively included in the study. Data on demographics, catheter tip location on chest x-ray, intraoperative vessel insertion sites and postoperative complications were analyzed. Catheter tip location was categorized as \"high\" (above the right mainstem bronchus), \"medium\" (at the level of the bronchus), and \"low\" (below the right mainstem bronchus). Distance to the carina was measured as well.
RESULTS: A total of 396 patients, 74.7% suffering from cancer were included in our study (mean age 6.3 ± 0.3 years). Complications occurred in about one fourth of all patients. Catheter-related blood stream infections (BSI) (n = 40, 36.4%) were most prevalent, but catheter tip position or vessel insertion site had no impact on the risk of infections. Dislodgement (n = 27, 24.6%) and occlusion (n = 11, 10.0%) were more frequent in \"high\" positioned catheter tips. While there was one patient who developed arrhythmia, no case of cardiac perforation, and in particular, no catheter-related death was recorded in our series. The vessel insertion site seemed to have no influence on the complication frequency of CAVDs.
CONCLUSIONS: The catheter tip position seems to have an impact on the catheter-related complication profile in children. To avoid complications, we recommend avoiding a \"high\" localization of the catheter tip above the right main bronchus. \"Low\" catheter tip placement was associated with the lowest dislocation rate. Given the overall low complication rate, insertion and use of CVADs in children can generally be considered as safe.

OBJECTIVE: Nosocomial infections increase mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Central venous line colonization is a major risk factor for the development of such infections. In adults and children, antibiotic and antimycotic impregnated catheters have been demonstrated to reduce colonization. However, recently published data showed no significant difference in bloodstream infection in neonates when an impregnated catheter was used. We investigated the effect of impregnation of percutaneously inserted micro-catheters (PICC) on colonization in preterm and sick term infants in our unit.
METHODS: Neonates were randomly assigned to receive either a standard (S-PICC; n = 34) or antibiotic and antimycotic impregnated (IP-PICC; n = 37) PICC. Catheters were placed and removed according to a standard procedure and subsequently examined by roll-out culture. The primary outcome was the rate of colonization defined as >15 colony-forming-units/ml. Additional outcomes were catheter associated or systemic infections.
RESULTS: The rate of colonization was lower in neonates who received an IP-PICC as compared to S-PICC (5.6% vs. 12.1% respectively; p = 0.42). However, the difference was not significant. In IP-PICC vs S-PICC, catheter related local infection (CRI) although lower was not statistically significant (2.9% vs. 6.1%; p = 0.60). We observed no difference in catheter related systemic infection (CR-SI) (0% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.48). The neonates whose catheters were colonized were predominantly of a lower gestational age (median 254/7, p = 0.05) and males (100%, p = 0.01). In addition, the median colony count in the colonized IP-PICC catheters was lower as compared to S- PICC group (53 vs 250, p = 0.06).
CONCLUSIONS: The use of antibiotic and antimycotic impregnated PICC-lines in neonates tended to decrease colonization rates in neonates in our centers but this difference was not significant. Lower gestational age and male sex are risk factors for catheter colonization.

The use of subcutaneous catheter devices has increased over the past two decades along with its associated infections. One of the complications is infective endocarditis (IE), which usually occurs on the valves of the heart. However, IE can rarely occur on the atrial septal wall. The most common pathogens associated with catheter-related IE are staphylococcus bacteria, and it is rarely caused by fungi. We present a case of a 75-year-old Caucasian female with infective endocarditis located on the right side of the atrial septum, caused by Candida albicans due to the use of a subcutaneous catheter port. We will discuss the diagnostic criteria and treatment plan for this patient and other treatment options available for these cases. To our knowledge, a similar case was reported in Brazil, but this is the first reported case in the United States of catheter-related infective endocarditis of the right atrial septal wall due to Candida albicans.