Staphylococcal nasal carriage and infection of chronic central venous access devices in cancer patients.

Objective: To assess the risk of infection of either subcutaneously implant ed central venous access devices or percutaneous central venous catheters i nserted via a subcutaneous tunnel in cancer patients with a positive staphy lococcal nasal carriage. Study design: Prospective study. Patients: The study included 266 patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Method: A nasal swab was taken prior to insertion of the venous access devi ce and the patients were followed over 30 days for the occurrence of a stap hylococcal infection (haemoculture and device or site of insertion). Resultats: A nasal staphylococcal nasal carriage was found in 227 patients. Out of the 15 developing a device infection, a staphylococcal nasal coloni zation was existing in nine patients. Bacteriological screening a sensitivi ty of 60% and a specificity of 13%. Conclusion: Bacteriological screening at the time of device insertion of a central venous access device is of no value for the detection of patients a t risk of staphylococcal infection of the device. (C) 2000 Editions scienti fiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.