A Clinical and Bacteriologic Study of Infections Associated with Venous Cutdowns

INDWELLING plastic catheters placed by venesection ("cutdown") have become commonplace in the treatment of seriously ill patients in nearly every field of clinical practice. Cutdowns are utilized primarily in two settings: in emergencies or at surgery when a dependable intravenous route of large caliber is needed; and, more commonly, when intact superficial veins are no longer available for needle puncture in the course of prolonged hospitalization. Septic complications of cutdowns are frequent, ranging from local suppuration and phlebitis to systemic infection, and have been documented to some extent in the literature.1 2 3 4 5 For example, in a study from this hospital describing . . .