Infectious complications related to non-tunneled central venous catheters in immunocompromised patients: prospective study about 210 cases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate infectious complications related to non-tunneled central venous catheter in immunocompromised patients, in a bone marrow unit. METHODS: From July to April 2002, we inserted 210 non-tunneled central venous catheters in 139 immunocompromised patients (52 F/87 M). The mean age was 26 years (3-56 years). Our study included 33 children aged from 3 to 15 years, on whom 46 catheters were placed. The catheters were placed for the following indications: 145 catheters were used in subjects who received a bone marrow transplantation, 58 catheters were placed in subjects who received chemotherapy for acute leukemia and seven catheters were used in patients who received immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS: The mean duration of catheterization was 33 days (7-114 days). There were 3.1 catheter-related infections per 1000 catheter-days. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were implicated in 64% of cases. We observed two pneumothorax (0.9%), one arterial puncture (0.4%) and two catheter-related thrombosis (0.9%). CONCLUSION: Non-tunneled catheters in immunocompromised patients (adults and children) is a safe technique, and is an alternative to the Hickman catheters which are most widely used today in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.