Intravascular device-associated systemic infections: a 2 year analysis of cases in a district general hospital.

The increasing use of intravascular devices (IVDs) throughout medicine has been accompanied by significant morbidity and mortality associated with catheter-related sepsis (CRS). Within the South Buckinghamshire district, 330 episodes of bacteraemia/fungaemia were recorded over the 2 year period 1992-1993. Thirty-nine episodes (12%), occurring in 37 patients, were associated with IVDs and these were divided into three groups according to the type and site of device. Six patients died with CRS contributing to mortality whilst one patient suffered serious morbidity, in the form of vertebral osteomyelitis. This analysis highlighted deficiencies in the management of IVDs which are likely to be found in similar district general hospitals in the UK. There is an urgent need for national guidelines on IVD care together with recommendations for the optimal treatment of IVD-associated infection.