Dressing Changes by Specialized Personnel Reduce Infection Rates in Patients Receiving Central Venous Parenteral Nutrition

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Abstract
In 60 pediatric patients, 75 central venous catheters representing 1866 patient days were placed to provide parenteral nutrition. During the 21-month study period, surgical residents were responsible for dressing changes during the first 16 months and a specially trained nurse was responsible during the final 5 months. Twenty percent of the lines became infected. The infection rate was significantly higher in the lines cared for by residents, 28.8% compared to 3.3% in the lines cared for by the nurse. This occurred in spite of the lines being in place significantly longer in the nurse group (31.7 us 20.3 patient days/line). These data indicate that a specially trained person using aseptic techniques can reduce infection rates in patients receiving central venous parenteral nutrition. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 10:220-222, 1986)