Catheter complications in AIDS patients treated for cytomegalovirus retinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the complications of central venous catheter use for intravenous therapy of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 388 patients with AIDS and CMV retinitis treated with intravenous medications through an indwelling catheter.


RESULTS
The catheter complication rate was 1.2 complications per person-year (0.33 complications per 100 catheter-days). Current injecting drug use increased the risk of infectious complications [hazard ratio (HR), 1.73; P=0.04] whereas former use did not (HR, 0.96; P=0.88). Subdermal port catheters increased the risk of bacteremia (HR, 1.78; P=0.05). Mortality for the first complication was 5.8%. Forty percent of patients required catheter removal, and 86.8% of these patients required reinsertion of another catheter.


CONCLUSIONS
Catheter complications are a substantial problem in patients with CMV retinitis treated with daily intravenous therapy.
Thorne
J E
JE
Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Jabs
D A
DA
Vitale
S
S
Miller
T
T
Dunn
J P
JP
Semba
R D
RD
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome