Tracheostomy and indwelling central venous line: a hazaradous combination?

A prospective study of 390 indwelling central venous catheters placed via the subclavian route defined bacteremia and tracheostomy as the only significant variables associated with the colonization of the catheters by pathogenic microorganisms. Catheter related sepsis was likely in only 3 of 33 episodes of proven bacteremia. Detailed statistical analyses of other potential contaminating factors revealed no significance. Specific concern must be assigned to placement of central venous catheters by the subclavian approach, when a tracheostomy is already present,