Risk factors for infection of adult patients with cancer who have tunnelled central venous catheters.
BACKGROUND
Long-dwelling tunnelled central venous catheters provide reliable access for infusion therapy of patients with cancer, but can result in serious bloodstream infections. The incidence of such infections has been documented, but few studies have assessed potential risk factors, and to the authors' knowledge, none have measured the effect of neutropenia upon the incidence of these infections.


METHODS
A cohort of 71 adult patients with cancer with long-dwelling tunnelled central venous catheters was followed for a total of 12,410 catheter days until catheter removal, death, or end of study for the occurrence of catheter-related infection or sepsis of unknown origin. Fifteen factors were assessed for association with these infections.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (18%) experienced a catheter-related infection (1.0/1000 catheter days), and 23 (32%) experienced sepsis of unknown origin. Neutropenia was associated significantly with risk for catheter-related infection (relative risk [RR] = 15.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7-86.9) and sepsis of unknown origin (RR = 10.3, 95% CI 4.0-26.8). Inpatient status, acute leukemia, and cytosine arabinoside therapy also were associated with sepsis of unknown origin, but not when adjusted for neutropenia.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the 15 potential risk factors studied, neutropenia was the only independent risk factor for infection related to long-dwelling tunnelled central venous catheters and for sepsis of unknown origin.
Howell
P B
PB
Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908.
Walters
P E
PE
Donowitz
G R
GR
Farr
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents