POSTMORTEM EVALUATION AFTER ONCOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF THE FUNCTIONAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STATUS OF 25 PERMANENT VENOUS ACCESS DEVICES

Permanent venous access devices allow longterm parenteral treatment un der relatively safe and comfortable conditions. Nevertheless, this use is associated with some degree of (particularly infectious) morbidity . 25 permanent access devices were removed surgically in immediate aut opsies and cultured. Some half were infected, with a clear prevalence (40%) for Staphylococcus coagulase negative. The results were related to clinical history and compared with the figures and conclusions of o ther studies. It is proposed that in certain situations cultures of na tive blood should be carried out more frequently through the permanent venous access, with a view to possible specific targeted antibiotic t herapy associated with the heparinized lock.