Brown University Health experts release guidance on catheter-related bloodstream infections

A new State-of-the-Art Review published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases provides clinicians with a practical roadmap for managing recurrent and relapsing catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). The review, led by Dr. Leonard Mermel of Brown University Health and The Warren Alpert Medical School, focuses on medically vulnerable patients who rely on long-term intravenous catheters for essential therapies such as chemotherapy, hemodialysis, and total parenteral nutrition.

Managing these infections presents a significant clinical challenge because the catheter is often essential for the patient's survival, meaning clinicians must balance treating the infection against the risks of removing or replacing a device that may be difficult to reinsert. The review advocates for an individualized, multidisciplinary approach involving infectious disease specialists, vascular-access teams, interventional radiologists, pharmacists, and nurses to improve patient outcomes and preserve critical vascular access.