Efficacy of subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuffs in preventing central venous catheter infections.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff in preventing local central venous catheter (CVC)-related infection and catheter-related sepsis in critically ill surgical patients.

DESIGN

A prospective analysis of the use of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff compared with a control group in two consecutive time periods.

SETTING

Two surgical ICUs at the Queen's Medical Center at the University of Hawaii Surgical Residency Program, Honolulu.

PATIENTS

All surgical ICU patients requiring insertion of central catheters.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULT

Two hundred thirty-five CVCs in 154 patients were prospectively evaluated. Silver-impregnated cuffs were used in the first 100 catheters, but none were used in the remaining 135 catheters. The incidence of catheter-related infection in both groups was 15% and 20%, respectively, not statistically significant. Catheter-related sepsis was 3% in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff failed to decrease the incidence of CVC-related infection and sepsis.