Experimental catheters were not more prone to bloodstream infections than control catheters. The rate of complications was not greater with experimental catheters than with control catheters. The summary odds ratio was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.40 - 0.84). There was a significant reduction in the rate of infections, based on all studies, only in the silver sulfadiazine and chlorhexidine (SSC) subgroup, and the non-SSC subgroup. Non-SSC catheters had a significantly lower odds ratio than SSC catheters. Experimental catheters were associated with a reduction in catheter-related bloodstream infections of 2.32% (95% CI: 1.04% - 3.61%) based on all studies, and also for the SSC subgroup and non-SSC subgroup. The use of experimental catheters yielded an infection rate of 2.78%. Experimental catheters were not associated with the development of more virulent pathogenic organisms. In no case was the duration of catheterisation significantly different in the control versus the experimental catheters.