Preventing Arterial Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections
Posted
on 6 October 2026
 "Preventing Arterial Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections")
| Study Overview Arterial catheters are widely used in critical care for continuous blood pressure monitoring and frequent blood sampling. Although their infection risk is sometimes overlooked, arterial catheter-related bloodstream infections can occur and may be under-recognised in routine surveillance. This review brings together current evidence on preventing infection across the entire arterial catheter lifecycle, from deciding whether a catheter is needed through to insertion, maintenance and timely removal. Key Findings Arterial catheters should be inserted only when clinically indicated and removed as soon as they are no longer required. Important prevention measures include:
The review also highlights several areas where evidence remains uncertain, including the safest insertion site, the ideal level of sterile barrier precautions, optimal securement, the role of needleless connectors and closed blood-sampling systems, and whether scheduled catheter replacement is beneficial. Implications Arterial catheter infection prevention should not focus only on insertion. The risk of contamination continues throughout the life of the device, particularly because arterial catheters are accessed frequently for blood sampling. A bundled approach that combines catheter stewardship, aseptic insertion, effective skin antisepsis, dressing care, access-port disinfection and timely removal is likely to provide the strongest protection. The review also calls for more arterial catheter-specific research. Many current recommendations are adapted from central venous catheter evidence, despite important differences between the devices and how they are used. Read more:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-026-06153-z Authors: Viviane Donner; Christine D. Sadeghi; Gaud Catho; Jean-François Timsit; Giovanni Satta; Claire M. Rickard; Leonard Mermel; Niccolò Buetti |
