ABSTRACT
At present, coagulase-negative staphylococci are still the most frequently isolated pathogens from patients with catheter-related infections (CRI). The increasing use of indwelling devices in an expanding population of immunocompromised patients may be themost important explanation for why the list of microorganisms involved in catheter-related infections continues to expand, since nonpathogenic microorganisms from the patient’s skin or the environment, formerly often classified as contaminants, may cause infections. The improved microbiological diagnostics, with the development of easy-touse identification systems and especially themorewidespread use ofmolecular methods such as automated DNA sequencing, may have furthermore led to the recognition of rare or even ‘‘new’’ pathogens. Novel approaches in catheter design andmaterialsmay help to reduce colonizationwithStaphylococcus epidermidis and other gram-positive cocci (1), but may not always help to prevent infections due to other, frequently saprophytic microorganisms.
