ABSTRACT
Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) are indispensable in current intensive care treatment; also pose a greater riskof device related infections in comparison to any other type of medical device and are major cause of morbidity,mortality and increased expense. A cross sectional prospective study of one year duration was conducted inthe tertiary care University Hospital ICU located in the rural region of Haryana, India, to determine the incidenceof the central venous catheter related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), rate of catheter colonization and toidentify the associated risk factors and the microbial spectrum of CRBSI along with the antimicrobial sensitivitypattern of microbial isolates. Sixty patients with central venous catheter inserted and admitted under ICUhaving signs and symptoms of septicaemia post 48 hours of central venous catheter insertion were included.The rate of CRBSI was assessed by paired quantitative blood culture method in the CVC and peripheral vein.The CRBSI incidence was 16.67% and catheter colonization was found to be 53.3%. Methicillin-resistantstaphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumanni were the predominant isolates. A statistically significantassociation of duration of catheterization with CRBSI was found. It is concluded that CRBSI incidence ishigh, with significant association of prolonged duration of catheterization with CRBSI. By knowing the changingtrends of microbial flora, empirical therapy can be formulated for early and effective management of CRBSI.