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: M Giacchino, S Bezzio, N Chiapello, P Saracco, F Fagioli, I Caviglia, C Moroni, E Castagnola
• Journal: Pediatric blood & cancer (Pediatr Blood Cancer) Vol. 49 Issue 7 Pg. 1010-2 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 1545-5009 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16685738 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage)
• Catheterization, Central Venous (adverse effects)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hematologic Diseases (complications)
• Humans
• Infant
• Infusions, Intra-Arterial
• Male
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Retrospective Studies
• Salvage Therapy (methods)
• Staphylococcal Infections (drug therapy, etiology)
• Treatment Outcome