Culture of bacteria from lumbar and caudal epidural catheters used for postoperative analgesia in children

摘要: Background and Objectives Continuous epidural analgesia has been used with increasing frequency to provide postoperative pain relief for children. Epidural space infection is a potential complication of catheter placement. This study investigated the incidence bacterial colonization on lumbar caudal tips in pediatric patients. Methods. In this prospective study, catheters were placed operating room aseptic technique. Dilute local anesthetic and/or opioid infusions analgesia. On discontinuation infusion, skin site was decontaminated 70% alcohol then cultured. The distal tip hub Semiquantitative qualitative aerobic cultures performed. Results. Data from 91 available (45 versus 46 lumbar). Of 45 9 (20%) colonized, compared 2 (4%) (P