title: Port central venous catheters-associated bloodstream infection during outpatient-based chemotherapy.
abstract: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are commonly used for the administration of intravenous chemotherapy in outpatient setting. Nevertheless, outbreaks of catheter-associated bloodstream infections had been reported from oncology centers. We describe a large outbreak of CVCs-associated Klebsiella oxytoca bloodstream infection, occurring in an oncology chemotherapy outpatient unit of northern Greece between October 2006 and May 2007. The outbreak involved approximately 10% of the patients with CVCs who were receiving home-based chemotherapy, and it represents the second larger outbreak of CVCs-associated BSIs due to Klebsiella oxytoca in oncology outpatient centers. We retrospectively analyzed the chain of investigations and prophylactic/diagnostic measures taken to eradicate the infection: (1) patients' chart audit, (2) estimation of the infection among asymptomatic patients, (3) implementation of the level of awareness of medical and paramedical personnel, (4) collection of samples from environment, medications and infusion materials, (5) critical appraisal of chemotherapeutical schemes and (6) cooperation with peripheral institutions. The isolation of Klebsiella oxytoca in a chemotherapy solution (infusional 5-FU in dextrose 5% solution within a 48 h pump) from a peripheral General Hospital and the prompt transmission of the data to the chemotherapy center played a key role for the management of the infection cluster. This is the first report that evidenced the detection of Klebsiella oxytoca within a chemotherapeutical preparation. Data transmission from peripheral hospitals to the central institution resulted in an important feedback that allowed a better estimation of the infection cluster and more tailored actions for the eradication of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Klebsiella oxytoca Working Group, Thessaloníki, Greece. dvd.mauri@gmail.com
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roumbkou
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michalopoulou
authors.forename: Lamprini
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tsali
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spiliopoulou
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panou
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valachis
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos
authors.forename: Nikolaos P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Polyzos
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D041121:Klebsiella oxytoca / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents