We examined the incidence and types of bacterial contamination in 265 infusion set needles in adult critically ill patients. Bacterial contamination was detected in 15 samples (5.7%), and a total of 17 organisms were isolated. Ten were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and Staphylococcus aureus, and the remainder were α-Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, and gram-negative rods. Although the contamination was not directly related to catheter-related bloodstream infections exchanging infusion bottles can cause intraluminal contamination and is a possible route of these infections.
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