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Table 3 Catheter colonization rate at the different sites of insertion. The presence of more than 15 CFU (colony forming units) of a single organism per catheter is defined as catheter colonization, and more than 15 CFU accompanied by local signs of inflammation indicate local infection. Values are expressed as median (25. / 75. percentile) or absolute and relative incidences; n = (%).

From: Risk factors for bacterial catheter colonization in regional anaesthesia

Localization

Total number of catheters

Duration of catheter use (days)

Not colonized n (%)

Colonized n (%)

Colonized and local infectious signs; n (%)

Epidural catheter (C6/7 - T2/3)

29

6 (5 / 8)

29 (100%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Epidural catheter (T3/4 - T 12/L1)

59

4 (3 / 6)

51 (86.4%)

8 (13.6%)

4 (6.8%)

Epidural catheter (L1/2 - L4/5)

8

4 (3 / 6)

7 (87.5%)

1 (12.5%)

0 (0%)

Paravertebral catheter (level T3 - T8)

4

1 (1 / 3)

4 (100%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Psoas compartment

5

4 (3 / 4)

4 (80%)

1 (20%)

1 (20%)

Posterior sciatic (gluteal)

1

2

1 (100%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Distal sciatic (popliteal)

1

2

1 (100%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Anterior sciatic (proximal)

7

2 (1 / 3)

4 (57.1%)

3 (42.9%)

1 (14.3%)

Femoral nerve

68

3 (1 / 3)

50 (73.5%)

18 (26.5%)

10 (14.7%)

Interscalene plexus

9

2 (1 / 3)

8 (88.9%)

1 (11.1%)

1 (11.1%)

Infraclavicular plexus

5

3 (2 / 6)

4 (80%)

1 (20%)

1 (20%)

Axillary plexus

2

3 (1 / 4)

2 (100%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Total

198

3 (2 / 5)

151 (83.3%)

33 (16.7%)

18 (9.1%)