Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated venous catheters are efficient even at subclavian sites without tracheostomy.

Background: Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (CHSS)-impregnated catheters have been found to decrease the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and central venous catheter (CVC)-related costs. However, there are no published data about cost-effectiveness of the use of CHSS-impregnated catheters in subclavian venous access without the presence of tracheostomy (thus, with a very low risk of CRBSI). That was the objective of this study.

Efficiency of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated venous catheters at subclavian sites.

Background: Cost-effectiveness analyses show that chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (CHSS)-impregnated catheters reduce catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and central venous catheter (CVC)-related costs. However, no studies have reported the efficiency of CHSS-impregnated catheters for venous access when the risk of CRBSI is low; for example, at the subclavian site. This study determined the cost of a CVC, diagnosis of CRBSI, and antimicrobial agents to treat CRBSI; we did not consider the cost of increased hospital stay.

Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated venous catheters save costs.

Background: Previous cost-effectiveness analyses have found that the use of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (CHSS)-impregnated catheters is associated with decreased catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) and central venous catheter (CVC)-related costs. However, in these analyses, the CVC-related cost included the increase of hospital stay.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the immediate CVC-related cost (including only the cost of CVC, diagnosis of CRBSI, and antimicrobials for the treatment of CRBSI) of using a CHSS or a standard catheter in internal jugular venous access.

Arterial catheter-related infection of 2,949 catheters.

Introduction: Which particular arterial catheter site is associated with a higher risk of infection remains controversial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines of 1996 and the latest guidelines of 2002 make no recommendation about which site or sites minimize the risk of catheter-related infection. The objective of the present study was to analyze the incidence of catheter-related local infection (CRLI) and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) of arterial catheters according to different access sites.

Prolonged intubation rates after coronary artery bypass surgery and ICU risk stratification score.

Objective: To determine prolonged intubation rates among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and to evaluate the ability of the Intensive Care Unit Risk Stratification Score (ICURSS) model to predict these events.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: A 24-bed ICU in a tertiary referral university hospital.