Risk of infection in prolonged central venous catheterization.

Classically, duration of infusion was thought to increase the rate of contamination by catheters. The results of this study show that this is not true and that, to the contrary, there is a definite difference in contamination rates between the basilic and the jugular and subclavian veins. The advantage of the basilic way which exists whatever the pathologic condition must undoubtedly determine the choice of this way of catheterization rather than any other.