Factors associated with umbilical catheter-related sepsis in neonates
S. Landers, A. A. Moise, J. K. Fraley, E. O. Smith and C. J. Baker
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
To determine factors associated with risk for umbilical catheter-related
sepsis, we studied neonates with one or more catheters in place for more
than 3 days. Among 225 infants with 357 umbilical catheters,
catheter-related sepsis occurred in 14 infants (6%). Catheter-related
sepsis occurred in 5% of infants with umbilical arterial catheters and in
3% of infants with umbilical venous catheters. Staphylococcal species
accounted for 71% of cases of catheter-related sepsis. Multiple logistic
regression analysis revealed that very low birth weight and longer duration
of antibiotic therapy were significantly associated with risk for umbilical
arterial catheter-related sepsis. Increased risk for umbilical venous
catheter-related sepsis was best predicted by the simultaneous occurrence
of higher birth weight and infusion of hyperalimentation solution. Catheter
duration correlated with duration of antibiotic therapy and with infusion
of hyperalimentation solution for both types of catheters; however, in the
multivariable analysis, duration of catheterization was not found to be a
significant independent predictor of risk for catheter-related sepsis for
either type of catheter.
