This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (81)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Distinguishing Catheter-Related From Other Septic Episodes

James D. Dillon, Jr., MD; William Schaffner, MD; Charles W. Van Way III, MD; H.C. Meng, MD, PhD

JAMA. 1973;223(12):1341-1344.

Abstract
Septic episodes in 122 patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were analyzed to determine criteria helpful in distinguishing catheterrelated septicemia from septicemia due to other causes. The five patients (4.1%) with catheter-related septicemia had positive blood and cathetertip cultures with the same organism and no other site of infection with that organism. Four of the six organisms recovered were either Candida or staphylococci. The 14 patients (11.5%) with septicemia due to other causes had positive blood cultures but negative catheter-tip cultures. Another site could be demonstrated to be infected with the same organism and was thought to be the origin of the bacteremic episode. Of the organisms recovered, 83% were gram-negative bacilli or enterococci. The implication of TPN catheters in the genesis of septicemia may be exaggerated in the literature.

Author Affiliations
From the departments of surgery (Drs. Dillon and Van Way), medicine (Dr. Schaffner), and physiology (Dr. Meng), Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to George Hunter Laboratory, Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville, Tenn 37232 (Dr. Schaffner).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Detection and Prevention of Central Venous Catheter-Related Infections
Kruse and Shah
Nutr Clin Pract 1993;8:163-170.
ABSTRACT  

A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing the Silver-Impregnated Collagen Cuff With the Bedside Tunneled Subclavian Catheter
Babycos et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1993;17:61-63.
ABSTRACT  

Implication of a Distant Septic Focus in Parenteral Nutrition Catheter Colonization
Chuang and Chuang
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1991;15:173-175.
ABSTRACT  

Percutaneous Central Venous Catheterization: Three Years' Experience in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Chathas et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1990;144:1246-1250.
ABSTRACT  

Subclavian Catheter Infections
Rose et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1988;12:511-512.
ABSTRACT  

Association of Parenteral Nutrition Catheter Sepsis with Urinary Tract Infections
Kovacevich et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1986;10:639-641.
ABSTRACT  

Microbial Growth Patterns in a Total Parenteral Nutrition Formulation Containing Lipid Emulsion
Gilbert et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1986;10:494-497.
ABSTRACT  

Sepsis From Triple- vs Single-Lumen Catheters During Total Parenteral Nutrition in Surgical or Critically Ill Patients
Pemberton et al.
Arch Surg 1986;121:591-594.
ABSTRACT  

Infection Control during Parenteral Nutrition Therapy
Williams
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1985;9:735-746.
ABSTRACT  

Parenteral Nutrition Complications in a Voluntary Hospital
Jones et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1984;8:385-390.
ABSTRACT  

Blood Culture as a Guide for the Diagnosis of Central Venous Catheter Sepsis
Bozzetti et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1984;8:396-398.
ABSTRACT  

Care of the Central Venous Catheterization Site: The Use of a Transparent Polyurethane Film
Vazquez and Jarrard
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1984;8:181-186.
ABSTRACT  

Nutritional Support of the Hospitalized Patient: The Team Concept
Nehme
JAMA 1980;243:1906-1908.
ABSTRACT  

Parenteral Nutrition Utilization: Evaluation of an Educational Protocol and Consult Service
Hickey et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1979;3:433-437.
ABSTRACT  

A Technique for Evaluating Sepsis in TPN Patients
Macht
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1977;1:97-99.
ABSTRACT  

Microbial Growth in Lipid Emulsions Used in Parenteral Nutrition
Melly et al.
Arch Surg 1975;110:1479-1481.
ABSTRACT  

Infection Control in Intravenous Therapy
MAKI et al.
ANN INTERN MED 1973;79:867-887.
ABSTRACT