Demographic data on the patients and central venous catheters
| Characteristic | Silver impregnated catheters (N=128) | Untreated catheters (N=142) |
|---|---|---|
| Male sex (%) | 121 | 131 |
| Median age (years) | 55 | 59 |
| Underlying diseases | 66 | 62 |
| Necrotising pancreatititis | 18 | 18 |
| Enterocutaneous fistula | 17 | 12 |
| Bowel obstruction/ileus | 29 | 39 |
| Upper gastrointestinal surgery | 15 | 11 |
| Abdominal sepsis | 19 | 26 |
| Others | 23 | 25 |
| Mean duration of placement (days) | 10.5 | 14 |