CATHETER SEPSIS DUE TO STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS DURING PARENTERAL-NUTRITION

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 151  (4) , 481-483
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a pathogenic organism with increasing importance in total parenteral nutrition therapy. Strict asepsis during catheter insertion prolongs the interval free from S. epidermidis infection. S. epidermidis colonizes the catheter after migrating from the skin. For protection, one advises a long subcutaneous tunnel for all catheters that are to be indwelling for longer than 3 wk. Prompt recatheterization of a patient with S. epidermidis sepsis can result in hematogenous seeding of the new catheter and persistence of the infection. Catheter related S. epidermidis sepsis subsided after catheter withdrawal and there is no need for antibiotic therapy provided that other prosthetic materials are not placed in the vascular tree. Immunologic status of the patients is not related to the frequency or severity of S. epidermidis infections, or both.