Efficacy of subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuffs in preventing central venous catheter infections

Study objectives: To determine the efficacy of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff in preventing local central venous catheter (CVC)-related infection and catheter-related sepsis in critically ill surgical patients, Design: A prospective analysis of the use of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff compared with a control group in two consecutive time periods, Setting: Two surgical ICUs at The Queen's Medical Center at the University of Hawaii Surgical Residency Program, Honolulu, Patients: All surgical ICU patients requiring insertion of central catheters, Interventions: None. Measurement and main result: Two hundred thirty-five CVCs in 154 patients were prospectively evaluated. Silver-impregnated cuffs were used in the first 100 catheters, but none were used in the remaining 135 catheters, The incidence of catheter-related infection in both groups was 15% and 20%, respectively, not statistically significant. Catheter-related sepsis was 3% in both groups. Conclusions: The use of an attachable subcutaneous silver-impregnated cuff failed to decrease the incidence of CVC-related infection and sepsis.