Polyclonal Staphylococcus epidermidis intravascular catheter-related infections

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2001 Jul;7(7):388-91. doi: 10.1046/j.1198-743x.2001.00272.x.

Abstract

During a 4-month period we prospectively investigated the frequency of polyclonal catheter infections with Staphylococcus epidermidis. Of each catheter with pure growth of S. epidermidis, six colonies were genotypically analyzed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Two out of 12 patients with catheter infection had a polyclonal infection. Both clones of each catheter had a clearly different antibiotic susceptibility. This study shows that polyclonal catheter infections are not exceptional. Further studies are needed to define the clinical consequences of polyclonal catheter infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Bacteremia / epidemiology
  • Bacteremia / etiology
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / adverse effects*
  • Catheters, Indwelling / microbiology
  • Cross Infection
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Equipment Contamination
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / etiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / genetics
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / isolation & purification*
  • Vancomycin / pharmacology
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin