Catheter Selection in Home Parenteral Nutrition Patients and Noteworthy Definitions in The Diagnosis of Catheter Infections

The rising number of patients in need of long-term parenteral nutrition has necessitated home parenteral nutrition. Extended usage of central venous catheters and parenteral nutrition has given rise to its own complications. Among them, catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) are linked to life-threatening complications, especially sepsis, septic shock, and metastatic infections. The principal objective of this review is to define diagnostic methods, notable clinical and laboratory findings, and catheter salvage strategies towards preventing CRBSI, which include defining and interpreting blood culture and its results, its confounding variables and common shortcomings in routine practice. We will discuss the types and relative advantages and disadvantages of differing methods of central venous access and compare the common diagnostic definitions used by existing guidelines. CRBSI remains a serious complication, and we aim to debate when timely intervention will be necessary in light of the existing literature.