Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections (Ca-Bsi) In Adults With Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Central venous access devices (CVADs) are essential in the modern management of patients with haematological malignancies and solid tumors. An often serious complication is catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CA-BSI) which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We have previously demonstrated (JHI 2011;78:26) in a retrospective study of 1127 CVADs that insertion of lines on the right side of the body was associated with increased risk of CA-BSI (HR 1.60, 95%CI 1.05-2.44). We hypothesized that this finding related to the predominance of right-handedness in the patient (as for the general) population, which may result in greater movement and thus associated bacterial contamination of the catheterised limb.