Effectiveness of silver-impregnated central venous catheters for preventing catheter-related blood stream infections: a meta-analysis.

•Catheter-related blood stream infection is associated with morbidity and mortality.•Silver-impregnated catheter may prevent catheter-related blood stream infection.•This meta-analysis included 11 randomized controlled trials and 1 cohort study.•Silver-impregnated catheter did not reduce bacterial colonization rates.•Silver-impregnated catheter did not reduce catheter-related blood stream infection.