Abstract
This report summarizes infectious complications associated with all tunneled Silastic catheters and subcutaneous ports inserted in patients at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center during a 2-year period. The data were from chart reviews and questionnaires. Statistical analysis included the first infection in the initial device of each patient. Analysis excluded 179 of 788 catheters on the basis of diagnostic exclusion. Of 680 ports placed, only 14 were excluded. A higher percentage of patients with catheters had a device-related infection (43%) compared with patients with ports (8%). There was a longer infection-free interval with ports as well. Forty-two percent of the infections in catheters were due to skin flora, and 56% were due to Gram-negative organisms. Of the port infections, 39% were due to skin flora, and 11% were caused by Gram-negative organisms. The study found that patients with solid tumors accounted for 31% of the catheters and 83% of the ports that were placed. Infection occurred less frequently in both groups of patients with solid tumors.
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