title: Continuous antibiotic infusion for salvage therapy of partially implanted central venous catheter tunnel infections due to staphylococci.
abstract: Tunnel infection is an uncommon but serious complication observed in patients with partially implanted central venous catheters. International guidelines suggest that should include antibiotics and catheter removal. A success rate of only 5-20% was reported without catheter removal. We treated 13 episodes of tunnel Gram-positive bacterial infection occurring in pediatric patients with cancer or serious blood disorders with 24-hr intra-catheter antibiotic continuous infusion. This approach led to a 69% success rate. Continuous infusion might be an attractive option to treat tunnel Gram-positive bacterial infections when catheter removal might not be feasible or advisable.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. mareva.giacchino@unito.it
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Giacchino
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bezzio
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Chiapello
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Saracco
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Fagioli
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Caviglia
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Moroni
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Castagnola