ABSTRACT
There are no data in the literature on colonisation of peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) inserted by French prehospital emergency and resuscitation service teams (SMUR). In a descriptive and prospective study we evaluated colonisation of PVCs inserted and managed solely by a SMUR team. A total of 171 PVCs were analysed. Bacteriological results were positive for seven catheters (4.09%/threshold=10(2)cfu/mL). Our analyses of the characteristics of patients and interventions show a significantly higher number of elderly patients among those colonised (P=0.02) with less satisfactory venous access (P=0.006) and smaller catheter bores (P=0.009). No differences were seen regarding the other evaluation criteria: gender, aetiology, site of intervention, number and site of venepuncture procedures, blood pressure and duration of catheterisation. The absolute value of colonisation seen in our study appears consistent with those reported in the literature, but no comparisons are possible due to widely divergent catheterisation times between published work (days) and our own data (minutes). Our results suggest a reassessment of current recommendations of routine changeover of these catheters, with the attendant discomfort for patients and cost in terms of time and money. We recommend a randomised study comparing catheter colonisation levels associated with routine catheter replacement with targeted replacement based on risk factors.
Subject(s)
Bacteria/isolation & purification , Catheterization, Central Venous/adverse effects , Catheterization , Emergency Medical Services , Health Services Research , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , France , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A 70 year old patient with a past history of a left ventricular cardiomyopathy with concentric hypertrophy presented with an exacerbation of cardiac failure; radiology revealed bilateral lung infiltrations, predominantly on the right and a restrictive ventilatory disorder. The broncho-alveolar lavage revealed a lymphocytosis with CD4 prominence. Microbiological examination was negative. With a worsening radiological picture despite increased anti-failure treatment a video-assisted surgical biopsy was performed. The histological examination revealed diffuse interstitial pulmonary amyloidosis. This observation underlined the value of looking for this rare cause of cardiac failure and pulmonary infiltration in a situation where the pulmonary images did not improve on diuretics.