INTRODUCTION
Long term venous access has high advantages in clinical practice and CVCs are currently widely used. Their use is still related to high risk of infective complications ranging from localized sepsis in the insertion site to endocarditis and septicaemia. Catheter related sepsis are a relevant problems since infections may delay the therapy if the device has to be removed, increase morbidity and mortality, and hospital stay and costs. The present work shows the results of a comparative study between two type of CVC dressings, tape/gauze and polyutethane transparent films in device contamination and related infections.

 MATHERIALS AND METHODS
The study has been carried out between February 2001 ad August 2005, in the “SS. Annunziata” Chieti Hospital (Italy). 124 patients with CVCs were studied. All patients underwent non-emergency CVC insertion in subclavian or internal jugular vein. Group “A” patients was treated with gauze/tape dressing, while group “B” one was treated with transparent plyurethane film dressing. After the removal of the CVC, the end portion and tree fragments of the catheter was analyzed.

 RESULTS
Group A included 60 patients, 53 males, 7 females, mean age was 69.15 years (SD,10.09; R,21-86). Group ‘B’ included 64 patients, 40 males, 34 females, the mean age was 62.81 years (SD,16.65; R,17-84).
Laboratory showed 52 sterile catheter (86.67%) and 8 positive (13.33%) in group A while, in the in group B the data showed 45 sterile catheter (70.31%) and 19 positive (29.69%).

CONCLUSION
Our study showed different infection rate in the two group studied. Results demonstrated a lower incidence of CVC tip contamination in CVC dressed with gauze/tape compared to polyurethane transparent film dressing. Bacterial colonization was found in 13.34% in Group A and in 29.68% in group B with a difference of bacterial contamination more of 16%.