Catheter culture as a guide in the management of infection in the critically ill surgical patient.

Results of a bacteriologic study of 194 intravascular catheters inserted in 56 critically ill surgical patients showed that with strict adherence to aseptic insertion techniques and proper care, catheter contamination could be reduced to a minimum, and catheter-induced septicemia could be avoided. Our findings in septic patients showed that in the critically ill surgical patients, routine bacteriologic studies of intravascular catheters helped in anticipation and diagnosis of sepsis as well as selection of appropriate antiobiotic therapy.