[The bacterial contamination of epidural catheters with areobe and anaerobe germs in obstetrics (author's transl)].

Following anaesthesia the tips of 105 epidural catheters were investigated for aerobe and anaerobe bacteria. In one case aerobe germs (staphycoccus epidermidis) and in three cases anaerobe germs (propioni-bacteria were isolated. In two further cases aerobic growth was suspected but not confirmed in sub-cultures. The contamination rate was therefore 0.9% aerobe and 4.8% by anaerobe bacteria. Even in the face of a clinically uncomplicated course the presence of bacteria on the catheter tip is considered to be a potential risk for infection. As a preventive measure the skin disinfection procedure was changed and the disinfectant is left for sic minutes instead of three minutes.