The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Bacteriological Culture of Indwelling Epidural Catheters

지속적 경막외 차단후 카테터 끝의 감염에 대한 검사

  • Yoon, Duck-Mi (Department of Anesthesiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Youn-Woo (Department of Anesthesiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Oh, Hung-Kun (Department of Anesthesiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine)
  • 윤덕미 (연세대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실) ;
  • 이윤우 (연세대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실) ;
  • 오흥근 (연세대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실)
  • Published : 1991.06.08
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Abstract

Continuous epidural analgesia is widely used in pain management. We investigates the incidence of contamination of epidural catheters used in epidural catheters for pain control. The tips of epidural catheters were examined for bacterial growth after use. In culture from 250 patients undergoing continuous epidural catheterization, 33(13.2%) catheters were found to be contaminated: staphylococcus epidermis 66.9%; staphylococcus aureus 12.1%; alpha streptococcus 12.1%; and others 9.1%. One significant epidural infection occured. One of the most common causes of the epidural infection during long time epidural block is the transmission of the microorganism from the contaminated skin to the epidural space along the epidural catheter. To prevent epidural infection, sterilization of the skin around the epidural catheter is essential.

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