Microbial colonization of indwelling central venous catheters: statistical evaluation of potential contaminating factors.

A prospective study of 390 indwelling central venous catheters placed by way of the subclavian route identified bacteremia and tracheostomy as the only significant variables associated with the colonization of the catheters by pathogenic microorganisms. Catheter-related sepsis was likely in only 3 of 33 episodes of proved bacteremia. Detailed statistical analyses of other potential contaminating factors revealed no significant correlations.