How to manage central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections due to Gram-negative bacilli?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study was to review recent data evaluating the management of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection due to Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence of GNB catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) has been increasing considerably in the last years, and this has raised a concern due to the high reported rate of multidrug-resistant in these infections what poses a considerable challenge for effective treatment. However, there are no specific guidelines for the management of GNB-CRBSI and optimal treatment duration has not been clearly defined. Recent studies have shown that the risk for complications is clearly different to what is stablished for Staphylococcus aureus . Therefore, a short course of antibiotic therapy might be effective once the central venous catheter (CVC) has been removed and the monitoring complications through control blood cultures or echocardiography seem to be less helpful in GNB CRBSI. SUMMARY: The incidence of GNB CRBSI has been increasing considerably in the last years; this has raised a concern due to the high reported rate of MDR in these infections what poses a considerable challenge for effective treatment. However, there are no specific guidelines for the management of GNB-CRBSI and optimal treatment duration has not been clearly defined. Recent studies have shown that the risk for complications is clearly different to what is stablished for S. aureus . Therefore, a short course of antibiotic therapy might be effective once the CVC has been removed and the monitoring complications through control blood cultures or echocardiography seem to be less helpful in GNB-CRBSI.