Makoto Kawata

Bacteriological Study and Observation by the Scanning Electron Microscope of the Tips of the Intraarterial Catheters

Bacteriological studies and observation by the scanning electron microscope of the tips of the intraarterial catheters were made on patients with malignancies of the head and neck who were treated by intraarterial injection. Seven of the 28 samples (25 %) were positive bacterial contamination, but no clinical symptoms of infection developed at all. There were two achromobacter xylosoxidans, 2 staphylococcus epidermidis, 2 propionibacterium acnes and one pseudomonas cepacia. Positive bacterial contamination (Pseudomonas cepacia) was seen in ony 1 of the 9 patients who were compelled to remove the intraarteral catheters. Scanning electron microscopic findings of the tips, and the inside catheters showed granular and fern-like materials, but none showed bacteria. Predominant peaks of Na, Cl, P, S levels were detected by an X-ray microanalyzer. In conclusion, no relationship was observed between the trouble of tubing and the bacterial contamination, but care should be paid to avoid the contamination.