Implantable venous port-related infections in cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the characteristics of implantable venous port-related infections in patients with malignancies.


METHODS
This was a 6-year study in which all the records of cancer patients who were diagnosed with port-related infections were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The analysis included 36 episodes of port-related infections. The median period from port implantation to the episode of port-related infection was 164 days (21 to 1650 days). Of the 36 episodes, 15 (42%) were polymicrobial infections, and 21 (58%) were gram-negative pathogens. If only the port-related bacteremia was taken into consideration, gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci accounted for 39 and 7 pathogens of the total 53 isolated microorganisms (74% and 13%, respectively). Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumanii were the predominant causal microorganisms. All except two infectious catheters were removed. No infection-related mortality developed.


CONCLUSIONS
Gram-negative bacilli, especially the glucose-non-fermenting pathogens, tend to be the major microorganisms that account for port-related infections, and the infections run a benign course, even those developed in septicemia.
Huang
Wen-Tsung
WT
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital College of Medicine, 138, Sheng-Li Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chen
Tsai-Yun
TY
Su
Wu-Chou
WC
Yen
Chia-Jui
CJ
Tsao
Chao-Jung
CJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors