HIGH-INCIDENCE OF LINE-RELATED INFECTION AND MECHANICAL FAILURE OF ANANTISEPTIC IMPREGNATED CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER IN HIGHLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Prolonged central venous catheterisation is associated with a substant ial risk of line related infection, which may be reduced when a chlorh exidine/silver-sulfadiazine coated catheter (ARROWgard Blue(TM)) is us ed in medical or surgical ICU patients. However, no data is available from severely immunocompromised patients. We therefore performed an in itial exploratory study among patients with haematological malignancy, aplastic anaemia or bone marow transplantation. The study was termina ted after the 12th catheter insertion. Eight of 11 assessable catheter s developed a notable degree of mechanical dysfunction, which directly led to catheter removal in 2 patients. Six of the 11 catheters were u nstable. Catheter-related infection occurred in 5 instances. Only 1 ca theter functioned normally and was unassociated with infection. The AR ROWgard Blue(TM) catheter cannot be recommended for prolonged use in t hese patients.