Guidewire Catheter Change in Central Venous Catheter Biofilm Formation in a Burn Population

Of the catheters defined as colonized by SEM, the special culture technique showed bacterial growth in only 35 percent, making a negative culture result of dubious value in ruling out catheter colonization.

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the risk of colonization and biofilm formation of central venous catheters left in situ for seven days vs those changed over a guidewire at three days and removed at seven days. Colonization was determined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and compared to a special scraping/sonication culture method. Thirty-one catheters were examined, and no difference was found between catheters left in situ (9 of 16 colonized) and those changed over a guidewire (11 of 15 colonized). Colonization rates rose significantly from 4 of 15 catheters at the time of guidewire change to 11 of 15 at 7 days (p less than 0.001). Of the catheters defined as colonized by SEM, the special culture technique showed bacterial growth in only 35 percent, making a negative culture result of dubious value in ruling out catheter colonization. No beneficial effect of guidewire changes in reducing colonization could be demonstrated.