Central venous catheters (CVC) which were introduced by Meyer in 1945, are widely used in today's medical practices for many purposes (infusion of drugs, blood products, fluids, parenteral nutrients, total parenteral nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring) especially in anesthesia and intensive care units. Central venous catheterization is commonly used in critically ill patients and may lead to several complications. CVCs appear to be important causes of morbidity and mortality in the hospital setting. Localized cellulitis, septic thrombophlebitis, abscess formation, instrument-related bacteremia, metastatic infections (osteomyelitis, endophthalmitis, arthritis, lung abscess, brain abscess), endocarditis and other infectious complications are the most important complications of catheter use. In this review pathogenesis, etiological agents and incidence of CVC infections are summarized.