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Continuous antibiotic infusion for salvage therapy of partially implanted central venous catheter tunnel infections due to staphylococci
Author(s) -
Giacchino M.,
Bezzio S.,
Chiapello N.,
Saracco P.,
Fagioli F.,
Caviglia I.,
Moroni C.,
Castagnola E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.20864
Subject(s) - medicine , catheter , antibiotics , central venous catheter , surgery , complication , antibiotic therapy , bloodstream infection , blood cancer , cancer , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
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. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:1010–1012. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.