Nosocomial Infections Caused by Jugular Central Venous Catheterization in Brain Surgery Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate nosocomial infections associated with central venous catheter (CVC) in Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (NSICU) and to discuss the means of prevention. Material and Methods: The patients who were admitted to Neurosurgery ICU at the GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital between the years of 2008 to 2011 were evaluated for the study. All the patient medical records that were collected at the Hospital Infection Control Committee were screened retrospectively. Of the 426 patients' medical records that were screened, 145 patients with CVC were included in this study. Results: A total of 145 patients who were treated with CVC in NSICU were followed up. Of the 145 patients, 98 were surgically treated for main diagnosis and their CVC was inserted under operation room conditions. The remaining 47 patients were followed up in NSICU and their CVC was inserted in the environment of ICU. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (25%, n = 10) was the most commonly isolated agent from the patients with CVC-induced infections, followed by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (16%, n = 4). Conclusion: In this study, the rate of CVC related infection of blood circulation was higher in the patients who underwent surgery and whose catheter was inserted in the operation room. It can be postulated that surgical stress might result immunosuppression that predisposes CVC patients to infections.