title: Peripherally inserted central catheters in patients with AIDS are associated with a low infection rate.
abstract: We reviewed the medical records of all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients who had a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placed during a 1-year period. Ninety-seven PICCs were inserted in 66 patients for 8337 catheter-days. Eighty of 97 catheters were used primarily to treat cytomegalovirus disease. The mean time to any complication was 150 days. The total complication rate was 6.1 per 1000 catheter-days. The total infection rate was 1. 3 per 1000 catheter-days, and the serious infection rate was 0.8 per 1000 catheter-days. The mean time to a serious infection was 310 days. The noninfectious complication rate was 4.6 per 1000 catheter-days. PICCs were associated with a low infection rate and a moderate mechanical complication rate, which compare favorably with historical rates seen in AIDS patients with other types of central venous access devices. PICCs are a reasonable alternative to other central venous access devices in patients with HIV or AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235-9133, USA. dskies@mednet.swmed.edu
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Skiest
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keiser
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies