Central venous catheter (CVC) infections are a frequent and serious nosocomial complication in critical care, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and costs. The pathophysiology of these infections relies on the formation of a biofilm, an organized microbial structure that confers exceptional tolerance to anti-infectives and the immune system. However, data concerning the characteristics of the in vivo biofilm (kinetics, composition, endo- vs. extraluminal organization) on central venous catheters in intensive care patients are very limited, hindering the development of effective and targeted prevention strategies.
The main aim of this study is to quantify the density and describe the spatial distribution (extra- and intraluminal compartments) of the biofilm on infected or colonized central venous catheters, prospectively collected from patients in the critical care units.