A study on bacterial colonisation and biofilm formation on intravascular devices in Fathima Inistitute of Medical Sciences, Kadapa

Introduction: Intra venous therapy for infusion of blood products, fluid and electrolytes, parenteral medications, hemodynamic monitoring, and for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has become an essential feature of modern medical care. However, this is associated with the significant risk of infection of blood stream. Material and methods: Intravenous cannulae with complaint of shooting pain and tenderness associated with cannulae were chosen as subjects of study. Tips of the cannulae were cultured using the semiquantitative method described by Maki. Results: Among them, 32 (32%) cannulae were infected. Among the blood samples of these patients cultured, 14 (14%) were positive and 86 (86%) blood samples were sterile. Fourteen were Coagulase negative Staphylococci, ten were Coagulase positive Staphylococci and five were Micrococci. The others were Corynebacterium jeikeium (4), Candida parapilosis (2), Candida glabrata (2), Klebsiella pneumonia (2) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2). Conclusion: There is no significant increase in the percentage of positive cultures with increase in duration of intravascular stay of the cannulae, after 24 hours. Majority of isolates from both cannula and blood are Coagulase negative Staphylococci (34.14% and 35.75% respectively). Majority of blood culture isolates are sensitive to Vancomycin.