title: Infections associated with Hickman catheters in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hickman catheters are frequently used as convenient long-term venous access in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These patients seem to be at increased risk for bacterial infections of intravenous devices. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of Hickman catheter infection in patients with AIDS as compared with that in other patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the records of 69 patients who underwent 71 consecutive Hickman catheter placements during a one-year study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six Hickman catheters were inserted in 44 patients with AIDS, and 25 Hickman catheters were placed in 25 other patients. There were 18 infections: 16 occurred in patients with AIDS, and two developed in the control group (p less than 0.05). The 16 infections in AIDS were as follows: five exit site, five septicemias, two tunnel, one septic phlebitis, and three probable Hickman catheter-related. Staphylococcus aureus was responsible for 14 cases (87%); Staphylococcus epidermidis was responsible for four cases (25%). Mean onset of infection was 32 days, but seven patients were diagnosed in the first eight days after Hickman catheter insertion. Fever occurred in all patients with early infection, leukopenia was present only in three; infusion of parenteral nutrition did not increase the risk. Two early infections were fatal. The rate of Hickman catheter infection in patients with AIDS was 0.47 per 100 catheter days, as compared with 0.09 in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings underscore the need for using Hickman catheters only when absolutely indicated in patients with AIDS, since the risk of serious infectious complications appears to be high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cabrini Medical Center, New York, New York 10003.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Raviglione
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Battan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pablos-Mendez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aceves-Casillas
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taranta
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors