title: Polymicrobial catheter sepsis in long term central venous catheters.
abstract: We present 2 cases of polymicrobial catheter sepsis in patients with long term central venous catheters who were receiving home parenteral nutrition. Both patients were generally unwell with haemodynamic instability. Attempts at catheter salvage by combined antibiotic and fibrinolytic administration through the central line were unsuccessful and resulted in patient deterioration. Catheters were removed in both patients. We conclude that catheter salvage should be considered very carefully in patients with polymicrobial catheter sepsis and there should be a low threshold for catheter removal in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Unit, University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Eccles Old Road, Salford, M6 8HD, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ganguli