Bacteriological Culture of Indwelling Epidural Catheters

경막외 카테터의 장기간 거치시 말단부의 감염 조사

  • 양승곤 (세란병원 신경통증클리닉) ;
  • 이희전 (세란병원 신경통증클리닉) ;
  • 김승희 (세란병원 신경통증클리닉) ;
  • 이영철 (세란병원 신경통증클리닉) ;
  • 최환영 (방지거병원 신경통증클리닉) ;
  • 김찬 (세란병원 신경통증클리닉) ;
  • 김순열 (연세대학교 원주의과대학 신경통증클리닉)
  • Published : 1995.11.25

Abstract

The incidence of contamination of epidural catheters used for pain control was investigated. To prevent epidural infection, all patients with epidural catheters had taken amoxacillin 1.5gm/day orally. Of the cultures of catheters catched from 303 patients undergoing continuous epidrual catheterization, 5 catheters (1.7%) were found to be contaminated; cervical 1/86 (1.2%), thoracic 1/27 (3.7%), and lumbar 3/190 (1.6%). Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common etiologic agent (60%). To prevent epidural infection, sterilization of the skin around the epidural catheter and prophylactic use of broad-spectrum antibiotics are thought to be beneficial.

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