Why do ICU patients have a high risk for central line associated infections?

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) often have severe disease or injury that has weakened their immune system greatly. This weak immune system means they are more susceptible to any infection.

A central line is an intravenous line that is placed in a large vessel in the neck or chest rather than in a smaller peripheral vessel such as the arm or hand. Because the central line is larger and is closer to the heart, the potential complications of an infection being introduced into the patient through the central line are much more severe than the potential complications of an infection in a peripheral vessel.