[Septic complications, due to the catheter, in parenteral nutrition and continuous peridural anesthetic block. Cases from an intensive care center].

The results of the bacteriologic studies carried out on 192 catheters used for parenteral nutrition and continuous peridural block on 98 patients are reported together with the incidence of infections. The reported data emphasize the importance of the sterile precautions while no correlation seems to exist between the bacterial contamination and the length of stay of the catheter.