CVAD Associated Infections

Running head: CVAD ASSOCIATED INFECTION
CVAD Associated Infections
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1CVAD ASSOCIATED INFECTION
Introduction
Catheter associated infections are now an increasing cases observed in hospital
settings, particularly in intensive care units for people who are admitted in critically serious
conditions.
This blood infections are one of the most frequent and lethal complications that arise among
patients who are subjected to intravenous catheters. CVAD or Central Venous Access
Devices are the venous catheter devices that are provided to a patient through injection
through a vein so as to allow the supply of fluids, blood products, medications like
antibiotics; other medication therapies are also provided through catheter devices into the
bloodstream of the patients. The insertion of catheter devices through veins are intended to
improve the critical conditions of the patients; however complications arise with the insertion
of venous catheter devices (Cotogni and Pittiruti 2014). Although catheters are safe to be
inserted, serious complications like occlusion phenomenon of catheter, venous thrombosis
and even blood stream infection can result and lead to debilitating conditions of the patients.
Discussion
The hospital acquired infections of patients admitted in intensive care unit or ICU are
potential causes of morbidity and mortality of critical patients in ICU. The deleterious
consequences of infect ions depend on the causal microbial agents which give rise to blood
stream infections due to catheter insertions (Ullman et al. 2015). The intravenous insertion of
catheters provide supplemental nutrition to the patients; this purpose is served through venous
insertion of catheter devices. However, the potential risk factors associated with catheter
insertion and the site of its insertion, the occlusion of catheter due to poor dressing,
accumulation of moisture content at the site of insertion (moisture attracts microbial
contaminants which insert through the veins into the blood stream), contamination of the

2CVAD ASSOCIATED INFECTION
catheter device and the alterations in the insertion dosage of blood products lead to serious
consequences of blood stream infections (Ullman et al. 2016). The tip of the catheter tip can
be associated with the skin flora normally present in the patients’ skin; the catheter can
accumulate infection from other infected sites of patients. The most common microbial
contamination for catheter associated infection involves Staphylococcus aureus or Candida
sp. (Morano et al. 2015). Sometimes the lumen of the catheter becomes contaminated with
the infusates or medications that are provided intravenously. This results in formation of
biofilm around the catheter entry or exit site; cultures taken from these biofilms are subjected
to laboratory testing to determine the causal microorganisms behind this contamination. The
site of infection appears red and swollen sometimes with mild pain. The Staphylococcus
associated bloodstream infect ion causes sepsis in patients. Catheters are inserted either
through peripheral connections or into the veins near heart or a central line of insertion can be
applied to insert the catheters. The common central lines used involve the internal jugular
vein at the neck region, the subclavian vein of the clavicle. This central line of catheter
insertion results in blood stream infections due to bacteremia, which is preceded by the
culture collection from the entry site and from the vein used for insertion (Tang et al. 2014).
Assessment of Joseph revealed that he was suffering from high fever with rigors, he was
hypotensive; successive days of treatment showed that he developed mental agitation and
tried to remove all the tubings that were inserted into his body. The exit site of catheter
contact developed redness and mild swelling; these clinical representation were in response to
bacterial infect ion in bloodstream due to catheter associated device insertion through veins in
the arms. For Joseph, multiple medications were administered through intravenous
catheterisation; a three lumen catheter was intravenously inserted. Joseph was subjected to
intubation with intravenous crystalloids, metaraminol and noradrenaline; this three lumen
infusates could have resulted in admixture and gave rise to blood stream infections. The