Table 2 Bacterial contamination after removal of the catheter (total number of catheters: n = 198). CFU = colony forming units; the presence of less than 15 CFU of a single organism per catheter is considered to indicate catheter contamination, higher counts are defined as catheter colonization.
From: Risk factors for bacterial catheter colonization in regional anaesthesia
No bacterial catheter contamination | n = 151 (76.3%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Bacterial catheter contamination | n = 47 (23.7%) | ||
One organism per catheter | n = 31 (66% of contaminated catheters) | ||
Two or more organisms per catheter | n = 16 (34% of contaminated catheters) | ||
Total organisms | n = 66 (= 100 %) | ≤15 CFU | ≥15 CFU |
Normal skin flora | |||
Coagulase negative staphylococci | n = 40 (60.6%) | 10 | 30 |
Bacillus species | n = 9 (13.6%) | 5 | 4 |
Enterococcus species | n = 3 (4.5%) | 2 | 1 |
Optional pathogenic | |||
Escherichia coli | n = 5 (7.8%) | 5 | 0 |
Enterobacter species | n = 3 (4.5%) | 2 | 1 |
Klebsiella species | n = 3 (4.5%) | 3 | 0 |
Morganella morganii | n = 1 (1.5%) | 1 | 0 |
Nonfermenter species | n = 1 (1.5%) | 1 | 0 |
Pseudomonas aeruginosa | n = 1 (1.5%) | 0 | 1 |