title: Comparison of catheter-related infection risk in two different long-term venous devices in adult hematology-oncology patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infection is the leading complication of long-term central venous catheters, and its incidence may vary according to catheter type. The objective of this study was to compare the frequency and probability of infection between two types of long-term intravenous devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study in 96 onco-hematology patients with partially implanted catheters (n = 55) or completely implanted ones (n = 42). Demographic data and catheter care were similar in both groups. Infection incidence and infection-free survival were used for the comparison of the two devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a median follow-up time of 210 days, the catheter-related infection incidence was 0.2102/100 catheter-days for the partially implanted devices and 0.0045/100 catheter-days for the completely implanted devices; the infection incidence rate was 46.7 (CI 95% = 6.2 to 348.8). The 1-year first infection-free survival ratio was 45% versus 97%, and the 1-year removal due to infection-free survival ratio was 42% versus 97% for partially and totally implanted catheters, respectively (P <.001 for both comparisons).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, the infection risk was lower in completely implanted devices than in partially implanted ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Hemotherapy, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo and the Pró-Sangue Foundation - São Paulo/SP, Brazil. lupra73@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Luís Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pracchia
authors.forename: Lúcia Cristina Santos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Pedro Enrique
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Dorlhiac-Llacer
authors.forename: Dalton de Alencar Fisher
authors.initials: Dde A
authors.lastname: Chamone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged