Catheter associated coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection

ABSTRACT

In the past 6 years, the coagulase-negative staphylococci have emerged as a major source of nosocomial sepsis, usually in the setting of an intravenous catheter. In this work samples and swabs were taken from 30 patients receiving infusion therapy in intensive care unit. Isolation and identification of coagulase-negative staphlococci from nose, skin around the catheter, therapeutic fluid, surface of the catheter and blood were carried out by culture and biochemical reactions. Seventeen catheters out of 30 were positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci, and no organisms could be isolated from the blood of these patients. Coagulase-negative staphylococci can colonize the catheter without causing sepsis. Antibiotic sensitivity tests for isolated organisms showed sensitivity to amikacin and vancomycin and resistance to penicillins