[The significance of central venous catheters in the genesis of Candida endomycoses].

A high concentration of yeasts in feces creates the possibility of active penetration of yeast cells into the surrounding tissue and thereby into blood vessels. Fungaemia is probably caused by this process more often than generally suspected. It is our opinion that venous catheters are contaminated very rarely by yeasts residing on the skin and it is more likely that fungaemia is the causative mechanisms. Adhesion of Candida albicans cells to the catheter wall could not be demonstrated in these investigations. The catheter material examined had no fungistatic properties. To prevent catheters becoming a secondary source of infection it would be advisable for manufacturers to add fungistatic substances to the plastic material of venous catheters.