title: Infective complications of plasma exchange: a prospective study.
abstract: We examined the incidence and types of infective complications which occurred in 41 patients whose medical management included plasma exchange (PX) by intermittent cannulation; femoral, subclavian, or internal jugular catheter; or arteriovenous shunt. A high incidence of positive cultures from vascular access catheters was demonstrated. Of 23 patients for whom data were available, 13 had positive cultures, and results on 3 of these showed greater than 1 species. Gram-positive cocci were typically found. Of the 34 patients who received drug immunosuppression with PX, 1 patient developed severe shunt-site infection, and an additional 4 developed bacteremia. Seven patients were given PX alone, and none of these developed clinically significant infection; however, this difference in infection rate did not reach statistical significance. Clinically significant access-related infection remains an infrequent but potentially important hazard of therapeutic PX.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents