| Summary: | A central venous catheter is inserted into a large vein in the neck or groin to administer long-term intravenous medication or fluid nutrition. With use of a central venous catheter, the patients become susceptible to central line infections. This review summarizes research that gives an overview of interventions that may reduce the risk of infections with the use of central venous catheters. Use of central venous catheters impregnated with antiseptic or antibiotic agents reduce the risk of catheter related bloodstream infections. All-cause mortality, adverse events, or catheter related topical infection are probably not affected. We also identified other promising interventions; flushing and locking of long-term central venous catheter with a combined antibiotic and heparin solution for cancer patients, and use of antimicrobial ointment for patients with kidney failure. This report does not evaluate long term effects of antiseptic or antibiotic agents. Antibiotic resistant bacteria is a problem, in Norway as well as internationally. This is important to keep in mind when applying these results
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