The Effect of Systemic Vancomycin on Central Venous Catheter Colonization

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Central venous catheters (CVCs) have become essential tools for the management of patients in modern medical practice (1). They are used for the administration of intravenous fluids, medications, blood products, parenteral nutrition fluids, to provide haemodialysis, and to monitor the hemodynamic status of patients (2,3). Estimates of their use in the United States alone suggest that over 5 million CVCs are inserted annually (4). Unfortunately, these devices are associated with a number of complications, amongst which infection predominates (5). There has been a steady rise in the incidence of catheter-related infections (CRIs) despite emerging evidence-based measures to reduce infectious complications (4). More than 200,000 nosocomial bloodstream infections