Prevention of neonatal late-onset sepsis associated with the removal of percutaneously inserted central venous catheters in preterm infants

Indwelling central venous catheters are the most important risk factors for the development of sepsis attributable to coagulase-negative staphylococci among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. In addition, removal of a central venous catheter also may cause coagulase-negative staphylococci sepsis, which may be prevented by the short-term administration of an anti-staphylococcal agent during the procedure of removal. The administration of a specific anti-staphylococcal agent (cefazolin) was evaluated for the prevention of central venous catheter removal-associated coagulase-negative staphylococci sepsis. A prospective, open, randomized, controlled intervention study. Twenty-eight-bed neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary care children's hospital. Eighty-eight preterm infants (gestational age