Bacteriological Profile of Epidural Catheters.
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Date
2010-01
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Abstract
The bacteriological profile of epidural catheters was studied in 88 patients. Skin swabs before catheterization
and before removal of catheter with their controls were cultured in TSB Medium. The catheter hub, the
portion at the skin puncture site and at the tip were cultured in TSB Medium. The 1cm of the catheter bit
just before the tip was cultured in TGB medium for anaerobes.Both, the skin controls swabs and the
anaerobic culture, were negative. From the remaining, 56 positive cultures were obtained. Staphylococcus
epidermidis was the predominant organism in 52% followed by staphylococcus aureus 25%. The remaining
23% was shared by Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and E. coli. All the positive cultures from
skin prior to epidural catheterization had turned sterile by 48 hours, indicating continued bactericidal action
of the disinfectant. The likely source of positive skin cultures at 48 hours is hair follicles.The catheter tip
culture was positive in 9 specimen, none of which resulted in the formation of epidural abscess. In 3 cases
the cultures of skin puncture site and the tip were identical indicating tracking-in of the organisms.
Description
Keywords
Baceriological Profile, Edidural Catheters, Anaesthesiology
Citation
Sahay B M, Dahake Sanjot, Mendiratta D K, Deotale Vijayshree, Premendran B, Dhande P S, Narange Pratibha. Bacteriological Profile of Epidural Catheters. JK Science Journal of Medical Education and Research. 2010 Jan-Mar; 12(1): 23-26