Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vvkck Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T00:54:27.818Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Epidemiology of Device-Associated Infections Related to a Long-Term Implantable Vascular Access Device

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Mark J. Sotir
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
Curtis Lewis
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
Edward W. Bisher
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
Susan M. Ray
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia Epidemiology Department, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
J. Michael Soucie
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
Henry M. Blumberg*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia Epidemiology Department, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
*
Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Butler St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Abstract

Objective:

To examine risk factors for, and determine the incidence of, device-associated infections among patients with an implantable vascular access device.

Setting:

Grady Health System, including a 1,000-bed, inner-city, public, teaching hospital and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), oncology, and sickle cell clinics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Patients:

123 consecutive patients who received a PASPort implantable venous access device between January 1 and June 30, 1995.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study with follow-up ≥1 year following device implantation.

Results:

Underlying illnesses included HIV infection in 66 patients (median CD4 count, 24.4 cells/mm3), malignancy in 51, and sickle cell disease in 6. Mean age of patients was 43.7 years, 50% were male, and 74% were black. Thirty-one (25%) of 123 patients developed a primary or device-associated bloodstream infection (BSI), and 3 of the 31 patients experienced two separate episodes of infection. The overall rate of infection was 1.23 primary BSIs per 1,000 device days. Patients with cancer had a lower rate of infection than those with HIV infection, but the difference was not statistically significant (0.96 vs 1.50 BSIs/1,000 device days; relative risk, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-1.26). Subgroup analysis of patients with different malignancies indicated that infection rates differed according to type of cancer, and there was a trend for heterogeneity across the different cancer strata (P=.06). Gram-positive pathogens accounted for 60% of the pathogens recovered. Six (19%) of 31 patients who developed an infection did so within the first 14 days after implantation. In 11 (32%) of the 34 BSIs, the port required removal; two patient deaths were attributed to device-associated bacteremias (0.072 deaths/ 1,000 device days).

Conclusions:

Approximately one fourth of patients who had a vascular access device implanted developed a primary BSI, but the overall infection rate (per 1,000 device days) was relatively low, even among those with HIV infection. Primary BSI rates in patients with vascular access devices appeared to differ according to the specific underlying illness.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Kahn, ML, Barboza, RD, King, GA, Heisel, JE. Initial experience with percutaneous placement of the PAS Port implantable venous access device. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology 1992;3:459461.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2. Foley, MJ. Radiologic placement of long-term central venous peripheral access system ports (PAS Port): results in 150 patients. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology 1995;6:255262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Rubenstein, EB, Fender, A, Rolston, KVI, Etting, LS, Prasco, P, Palmer, J, et al. Vascular access by physician assistants: evaluation of an implantable peripheral port system in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 1995; 13 (6): 15131519.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Brant-Zawadzki, M, Anthony, M, Mercer, EC. Implantation of PAS. port venous access device in the forearm under fluoroscopic guidance. AJR 1993;160:11271128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Lundberg, G, Wahlberg, E, Rickberg, A, Olofsson, P. PAS-Port: a new implantable vascular access device for arm placement: experiences from the first two years. Eur J Surg 1995;161:323326.Google ScholarPubMed
6. Maki, DG. Pathogenesis, prevention, and management of infections due to intravascular devices used for infusion therapy. In: Bisno, AL, Waldvogel, FA eds. Infections Associated With Indwelling Medical Devices. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology; 1994:155212.Google Scholar
7. Norwood, S, Ruby, A, Civetta, J, Cortes, V. Catheter-related infections and associated septicemia. Chest 1991;99:968975.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Pearson, ML. Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for prevention of intravascular-device-related infections. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1996;17:438473.Google ScholarPubMed
9. Groeger, JS, Lucas, AB, Thaler, HT, Friedlander-Klar, H, Brown, AE, Kiehn, TE, et al. Infectious morbidity associated with long-term use of venous access devices in patients with cancer. Ann Intern Med 1993;119: 11681174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Johnson, JA, Didlake, RH. Peripherally-placed central venous access ports: clinical and laboratory observations. Am Surg 1994;60(12):915919.Google ScholarPubMed
11. Garner, JS, Jarvis, WR, Emori, TG, Horan, TC, Hughes, JM. CDC definitions for nosocomial infections, 1988 Am J Infect Control 1988;16:128140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. Gilbert, DN, Dworkin, RJ, Raber, SR. Leggett, JE. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial-drug therapy. N Engl J Med 1997;337:829838.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Skiest, DJ, Grant, P, Keiser, PP. Nontunneled central venous catheters in patients with AIDS are associated with a low infection rate. J Acquir Immune Defic SyndrHum Retrovirol 1998;17:220226.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. Dega, H, Eliaszewicz, M, Gisselbrecht, M, Fleury, J, Pialoux, G, Janssen, B, et al. Infections associated with totally implantable venous access devices (TIVAD) in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1996;13:146154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Sweed, M, Guenter, P, Lucente, K, Turner, JL, Weingarten, MS. Long-term central venous catheters in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am J Infect Control 1995;23:194199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Raviglione, MC, Battan, R, Pablos-Mendez, A, Aceves-Casillas, P, Mullen, MP, Taranta, A, Infections associated with Hickman catheters in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am J Med 1989;86:780786.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17. Mukau, L, Talamini, MA, Sitzmann, JV, Burns, RC, McGuire, ME. Long-term central venous access vs other home therapies: complications in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 1992;16:455459.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Stanley, HD, Charlebois, E, Harb, G, Jacobson, MA. Central venous catheter infections in AIDS patients receiving treatment for cytomegalovirus disease. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1994;7:272278.Google ScholarPubMed
19. Skoutelis, AT, Murphy, RL, MacDonell, KB, VonRoenn, JH, Sterkel, CD, Phair, JP. Indwelling central venous catheter infections in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1990;3:335342.Google ScholarPubMed
20. Widmer, AF. Intravenous-related infections. In: Wenzel, RP. Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections. 3rd edition. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins; 1997:777, 794.Google Scholar