Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Central Venous Catheter-Associated Infections among Critically Ill Patients in Paraguay: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential for critical care but carry a significant risk of colonization and infection, particularly by multidrug-resistant organisms. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted including 114 intensive care units patients with CVCs. Sociodemographic data, microbiological isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: The majority of patients were male, with a mean age of 55 years. The predominant pathogens were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. S. epidermidis showed 100% sensitivity to vancomycin and 89.7% resistance to oxacillin. Infectious complications occurred in 7.1% of cases, and prolonged catheter use (>7 days) was significantly associated with infection (p = 0.044). Overall mortality reached 31.5%. Conclusions: Prolonged CVC use increases infection risk, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to aseptic protocols and timely catheter replacement. Local epidemiological data are crucial to guide antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention strategies in intensive care units.