Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Catheter related blood infections were thought to be caused by skin flora seeding the catheter. Thus, significant effort is applied to sterility and skin preparation.   However, studies have shown that bacteria growing on the tip of the catheter is not consistent with growth on cultures of skin.   Staphylococcus epidermidis is commonly found on cultures of catheter sites. It has also been found in the gut flora of >50% of ICU patients. Rates of catheter related blood infections have been decreased through oral decontamination and early feeding.  These findings suggest enteral bacterial translation as a major source of blood stream infection. References O'Grady NP, Alexander M, Burns LA, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(9):e162-e193. doi:10.1093/cid/cir257 von Eiff C, Becker K, Machka K, Stammer H, Peters G. Nasal carriage as a source of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Study Group.