Comparison of the sterility of long-term central venous catheterization using single lumen, triple lumen, and pulmonary artery catheters.

The incidence of thrombocytopenia and catheter-induced infection and colonization after the use of triple lumen (TLC), pulmonary artery (PA), and single lumen central venous (CVP) catheters was studied in 29 critically ill patients. Catheter-induced sepsis was documented in 7% of patients with TLC and 10% of patients with CVP and PA catheters. Thirty-three percent of TLC, 20% of PA and 10% of CVP catheters became contaminated during the study. Staphylococcus epidermidis most commonly caused catheter sepsis and contamination. Only patients with PA catheters showed significant decrease in their platelet count. We conclude that use of TLC catheters in critically ill patients does not appear to increase the risk of infectious disease and thrombocytopenia.