title: Hickman-Broviac catheter-related infections in children with malignancies.
abstract: Infectious complications are frequently encountered following Hickman-Broviac (H-B) catheter insertion. The medical records of 164 children with malignancies who underwent H-B catheter insertion from March 1, 1988 to December 31, 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. During a 35,697 catheter-day period, 77 catheter-related infections occurred, including 50 catheter-insertion-site infections and 27 bloodstream infections. The risk for the development of catheter-related infections was 2.15 per 1000 catheter-days (1.4 and 0.75 per 1000 catheter-days for catheter-insertion-site and bloodstream infections, respectively). In 17 (63%) of 27 episodes of bloodstream infections, antimicrobial treatment controlled the infection without catheter removal. A previous catheter-insertion-site infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis (p=0.01), the occurrence of mechanical catheter complications (p=0.007), and a normal coagulation status of the host (p=0.03) were significantly associated with the development of catheter-related bloodstream infections. H-B catheters remain important in pediatric oncology. Due to the significant morbidity associated with the development of catheter-related bloodstream infections, risk factors found to increase the incidence rate of such infections must be identified and properly managed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Stamou
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Maltezou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourtsidis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Psaltopoulou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skondras
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aivazoglou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology*