Incidence of catheter-related infections within 30 days from insertion of Hickman-Broviac catheters.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence of surgical site infections and bacteremias occurring within 30 days from insertion of partially implanted central venous catheters.


METHODS
Four hundred eighteen devices positioned in children with cancer or undergoing bone marrow transplant were followed prospectively.


RESULTS
During a follow-up of 12,394 catheter-days, a total of 13 infectious episodes were documented, with an overall incidence of 3.1% and 1.05 episodes/1,000 catheter-days. Coagulase-negative staphylococci represented the causative pathogens of all episodes. Overall, surgical wound infections occurred in 1.4% of all catheters, with a rate of 0.48/1,000 catheter-days, while isolated bacteremias were observed in 1.7% of all inserted devices, with a rate of 0.57/1,000 catheter-days.


CONCLUSIONS
Infections are rare events within 30 days from insertion of partially implanted central venous catheters and coagulase-negative staphylococci represent the most frequently isolated cause of these complications.
Castagnola
Elio
E
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Infectious Diseases Unit, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Molinari
Angelo Claudio
AC
Giacchino
Mareva
M
Chiapello
Nadia
N
Moroni
Cristina
C
Caviglia
Ilaria
I
Fratino
Giuseppe
G
Haupt
Riccardo
R
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors