Vancomycin and ceftazidime bioactivities persist for at least 2 weeks in the lumen in ports: Simplifying treatment of port-associated bloodstream infections by using the antibiotic lock technique

The residual antibiotic concentration of vancomycin (2 mg/ml)- or ceftazidi me (2 mg/ml)-heparin solutions instilled in ports in pediatric hematology-o ncology patients 1 to 34 days earlier was measured. Antibiotic concentratio ns of greater than or equal to 100 mug of either antibiotic per mi persiste d for at least 21 days. For treatment of lumenal port infections, antibioti c-heparin dwell times of greater than or equal to2 weeks may be appropriate .