To review the literature on prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Primary authors were contacted directly if data were incomplete. The quality of the data was graded by using preestablished criteria.
Simple interventions can reduce the risk for serious catheter-related infection.
Adequately powered randomized trials are needed. Author and Article Information From Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island. The author thanks Gretchen Kai Halpert for technical assistance and Dr. Dennis Maki for inspiration.