V. Colomb et al., Central venous catheter-related infections in children on long-term home parenteral nutrition: incidence and risk factors, CLIN NUTR, 19(5), 2000, pp. 355-359
Background and aims:This study aimed to assess the incidence and etiology o
f central venous catheter (CVC) infections in children on home parenteral n
utrition (HPN). Methods: 207 CVC-years were studied retrospectively in 47 c
hildren on HPN, aged 8.1 +/- 5.0 years. Results: 125 CVC were used (means:
2.6 CVC/patient and 21 months utilization/ CVC). Half of the hospitalizatio
ns (162) were due to proven CVC-related infections. The mean infection inci
dence was 2.1/1000 HPN days. The total population divided in two groups bel
ow and above this value: group one including 24 children, incidence less th
an or equal to 2.1 per 1000 days (mean: 0.83) and group two including 23 ch
ildren, incidence > 2.1 per1000 days (mean: 4.3). No differences were found
between the two groups in terms of underlying disease, presence of ostomie
s, age at the time of HPN onset, or micro-organisms responsible. The only d
ifferences (p < 0.05) were the mean duration of HPN (longer in group one) a
nd the delay between HPN onset and the first infection (longer in group one
). Conclusions: This study does not highlight any risk factors for CVC infe
ction. However, early CVC infections after HPN onset appear to predict a ba
d prognosis. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.