Stickers used for the identification of intravenous lines could be a portal of entry of microorganisms through the catheter: Results from a clinical study

We evaluated the colonization of stickers used to identify intravenous access lines in a clinical practice setting. We isolated the same microorganisms in colonized catheters and on the stickers in 77.8% of cases. Therefore, stickers could be a portal of entry of microorganisms through the catheter. Alternative methods for labeling intravenous lines are required.