Safety and Efficacy Study of Angiotech Central Venous Catheter to Prevent Bacterial Catheter Colonization

Central venous catheters are widely used for hemodynamic monitoring and the administration of fluids, drugs, and nutrition. The most frequent life-threatening complication of central venous catheter use is septicemia. Normal cutaneous flora may invade the intracutaneous tract during or after catheter insertion. The colonizing bacteria subsequently disseminate along the catheter surface and ultimately seed into the blood stream.

In the United States, a total of 250,000 cases of central venous catheter-related infections are estimated annually. Costs per infection are estimated as high as US$56,000. It is clinically imperative that effective measures be found to decrease catheter infection rates while minimizing the risk of the development of microbial resistance.

Primary Objective: The primary objective of this study is to determine the non-inferiority of the Angiotech Central Venous Catheter (CVC) when compared to the ARROWgard Blue® CVC to prevent bacterial catheter colonization.

Secondary Objectives: The secondary objectives of this study are to determine the non-inferiority of the Angiotech CVC when compared to the ARROWgard Blue® CVC to prevent:

1. catheter-related local infection; and

2. catheter-related bloodstream infection.

Safety Objectives: This study will assess the safety of the Angiotech CVC.