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David L. Veenstra, PharmD, PhD; Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH; Sean D. Sullivan, PhD

JAMA. 1999;282:554-560.

Context  A recent randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis indicated that central venous catheters impregnated with an antiseptic combination of chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine are efficacious in reducing the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI); however, the ultimate clinical and economic consequences of their use have not been formally evaluated.

Objective  To estimate the incremental clinical and economic outcomes associated with the use of antiseptic-impregnated vs standard catheters.

Design  Decision analytic model using data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and case-control studies, as well as safety data from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Setting and Patients  A hypothetical cohort of hospitalized patients at high risk for catheter-related infections (eg, patients in intensive care units, immunosuppressed patients, and patients receiving total parenteral nutrition) requiring use of a central venous catheter.

Intervention  Short-term use (2-10 days) of chlorhexidine–silver sulfadiazine–impregnated multilumen central venous catheters and nonimpregnated catheters.

Main Outcome Measures  Expected incidence of CR-BSI and death attributable to antiseptic-impregnated and standard catheter use; direct medical costs for both types of catheters.

Results  In the base-case analysis, use of antiseptic-impregnated catheters resulted in a decrease in the incidence of CR-BSI of 2.2% (5.2% for standard vs 3.0% for antiseptic-impregnated catheters), a decrease in the incidence of death of 0.33% (0.78% for standard vs 0.45% for antiseptic-impregnated), and a decrease in costs of $196 per catheter used ($532 for standard vs $336 for antiseptic-impregnated). The decrease in CR-BSI ranged from 1.2% to 3.4%, the decrease in death ranged from 0.09% to 0.78%, and the costs saved ranged from $68 to $391 in a multivariate sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion  Our analyses suggest that use of chlorhexidine–silver sulfadiazine–impregnated central venous catheters in patients at high risk for catheter-related infections reduces the incidence of CR-BSI and death and provides significant saving in costs. Use of these catheters should be considered as part of a comprehensive nosocomial infection control program.

Author Affiliations: Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program and Departments of Pharmacy (Drs Veenstra and Sullivan) and Health Services (Dr Sullivan), University of Washington, Seattle; and the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Dr Saint).

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