Bacterial colonization of epidural catheters used for short-term postoperative analgesia: microbiological examination and risk factor analysis.

Background: The authors conducted this prospective study to determine the incidence, potential routes, and risk factors of microbial colonization of epidural catheter used for postoperative pain control.

Methods: Two-hundred five patients with epidural analgesia for postoperative pain were studied. On removal of the catheter, five samples were sent for culture: the infusate, a swab from inside the hub of the epidural catheter connector, a swab from the skin around the catheter insertion site, the subcutaneous segment, and the tip of the catheter.