Which factor increases the likelihood of developing a bloodstream infection in residents with central venous catheters (CVCs)?

The likelihood of developing a bloodstream infection in residents with central venous catheters (CVCs) is particularly increased by having a higher number of lumens. Each lumen in a CVC presents an additional potential site for bacterial entry into the bloodstream. This increased complexity can lead to more opportunities for contamination during insertion, maintenance, or when using the catheter for medication or fluid administration. Each time a line is accessed, there is a risk for introducing pathogens, so a higher number of lumens proportionally raises the risk of infection.

In contrast, while other factors, such as length of stay, frequent catheter changes, and age of the resident may also contribute to infection risk to some degree, they do not specifically target the mechanics of CVC design and access points, which can directly influence the likelihood of infection. Therefore, focusing on the number of lumens provides a clear understanding of how design choices impact infection risk in patients with central venous catheters.