OBJECTIVE: To analyze mortality related to infections in the use of central venous catheters in newborns and hospitalized children. METHODS: This was a systematic review, using studies that were identified in the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Lilacs, CINAHL, SciELO and Cochrane, in bibliographical references of articles, and other reviews. Two reviewers independently identified relevant studies, analyzed the methodological quality, and subsequently, extracted data. RESULTS: We encountered 1,000 articles, of which 16 were related to catheter infection and only two mentioned mortality. Findings of these two studies verified that sepsis was the principal complication related to the use of central venous catheters, and the most prevalent microorganisms in these infections were Candida sp. and Enterococcus sp., with significant impact on neonatal and child mortality. CONCLUSION: It was observed in this review that sepsis was most prevalent complication related to central catheters.
Mortality; catheter-related infections; Literature review as a subject
