INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF IMPLANTABLE I NFUSION PORTS IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Thirty-four implantable ports were consecutively implanted in 27 AIDS patients (mean CD4 lymphocyte count: 39/mm(3)) from January 1993 to De cember 1995. We observed 33 complications in these patients. Periopera tive complications included: one pneumothorax(3%), one haematothorax ( 3%) and one septic shock (3%). Later complications included one venous thrombosis (3%) and 26 infectious complications (79%), Fever of unkno wn origin was observed in three patients (9%). A total of 19 bacteremi as occured in 12 patients. The global rare of infection for 100 cathet er-days was 0.51 for a total of 5,096 catheter-days. The following mic roorganisms were isolated: Staphylococcus (n = 21; 72%), Pseudomonas ( n = 3; 11%) and others (n = 5; 17%). Thirty-eight percent of the ports (n = 13) were removed after a mean of 89 days. During the study, 21 p atients died. Two patients died from a catheter infection with septic shock (8%). It seems to be important to clearly define the indications of implantable infusion ports in AIDS patients with respect to their life expectancy.