[A 1993-1995 epidemiological survey of home parenteral nutrition in approved centers for adults in France]. / Données épidémiologiques 1993-1995 de la nutrition parentérale à domicile en centres agréés chez l'adulte en France.

OBJECTIVES: A 1993-1995 three year epidemiological survey of home parenteral nutrition was performed through in France in approved centers for adults. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected each year on a standardized questionnaire focussing on indications and short term outcome. RESULTS: All centers (n = 14) participated in the study and 524 new adult patients were recruited. The overall incidence was unchanged at 3.75 patients/10(6) adults. Indications for AIDS rose (8 to 18%) whereas other indications were stable. Prevalence increased by 19%: 4.40 adults/10(6) patients at 01.01.1996. At six months, the probability to stay on treatment was 19.5% for AIDS and cancer indications but 52% for others, whereas death rates were 59% and 9% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For both cancer and AIDS indications, short-term treatment was due to a poor prognosis. For other diagnosis, complicated with a short bowel in 51% of cases, prognosis was excellent but associated with treatment dependency. The latter point focuses on the need for additional treatments in irreversible intestinal failure.

Home parenteral nutrition and vitamin B12 status.

The vitamin B12 status of 20 subjects who were on home parenteral nutrition after surgical or functional small bowel resection and were given 1000 micrograms cyanocobalamin every 3 mo was studied by comparing their plasma vitamin B12, homocysteine (HS), and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations. The plasma vitamin B12 concentration (median 145 pmol/L, 95% confidence interval: 123-217) was subnormal in four cases and borderline in four others. In the "4low B12" group, the concentrations of the markers of vitamin B12 deficiency were in the normal range; HS 10.7 mumol/L (8.0-12.3); and MMA, 0.15 mumol/L (0.09-0.19). References values were HS, 10.0 mumol/L (9.4-12.6); and MMA, 0.16 mumol/L (0.10-0.19). Thus, there were no metabolic signs of vitamin B12 deficiency in these subjects on parenteral nutrition, despite the fact that their plasma vitamin B12 levels were low. Analysis of individual data showed that the four patients with low circulating B12 had markers of intracellular vitamin B12 deficiency in the normal range.

Antibiotic-lock technique is an effective treatment of bacterial catheter-related sepsis during parenteral nutrition.

Catheter-related sepsis is one of the most frequent and troublesome complications of parenteral nutrition. In a 2-year survey of 19 home parenteral nutrition patients, with a total of 25.2 years of cyclic nocturnal parenteral nutrition, the annual incidence of catheter-related sepsis was 1.27, of which 84% were due to bacterial catheter infection without any cutaneous focus. These 27 episodes were treated by a daily, 2 ml injection of antibiotic-saline solution, mainly amikacin, locked for 12 h per day within the infected catheter for 15 (7-20) days. On admission the parenteral nutrition was halted for 2 days and the catheter hub was changed. In 7 cases, an average of 3 days (2-5) of systemic antibiotic therapy was given in addition to the 2-week antibiotic-lock. Control of catheter-sepsis was achieved in 93% of the 27 episodes and parenteral nutrition was resumed using the same catheter with only one episode of recurrent sepsis. The present data confirm our preliminary report of the efficacy of the antibiotic-lock technique for the control of bacterial catheter-related sepsis. This treatment offers the advantage over current therapies of avoiding repeated catheter change and 2-6 weeks of systemic antibiotic therapy.

Antibiotic-lock technique: a new approach to optimal therapy for catheter-related sepsis in home-parenteral nutrition patients.

During a cumulated survey of 286 months, covering 11 gastroenterological patients under nocturnal-cyclic home parenteral nutrition, 24 cases of catheter-related sepsis were observed (one/11.9 months). None of these were associated with focus of infection at the cutaneous entry point or at the subcutaneous tunnel of the catheters. In this study attempt was made to control sepsis without removal of the surgically implanted siliconed lines (Vygon code 180-20 with an internal filling volume of 1 ml). The first two catheter-sepsis were conventionally treated with systemic antibiotics for 3 weeks which meant a 1-month hospital admission each time. Consequently, we used a new antibiotic therapy consisting of locking 12 hr/day 2 ml of highly concentrated antibiotic solution within the catheter. After identification of bacterial strains by blood cultures, the antibiotic lock-technique was daily applied either alone for 16 days (group I, n = 11) or for 12 days following a 3-day course of systemic antibiotics (group II, n = 11). After starting antibiotics via the infected line, the time taken for fever abatement and for obtaining negative in-line blood cultures were 2 and 4 days, respectively, and identical in group I and II. Failure of antibiotic treatment leading to catheter withdrawal was observed once in each group (9%) and was due to secondary candida catheter-sepsis. The time for hospital stay was shorter p less than 0.02 in group I (4 days) than in group II (7 days). Antibiotic-lock technique was then applied by trained patients at home.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Technical hazards of using nutritive mixtures in bags for cyclical intravenous nutrition: comparison with standard intravenous nutrition in 48 gastroenterological patients.

Three methods for dispensing nutritional solutions are compared in 48 patients with gastrointestinal diseases on intravenous nutrition during 3582 days. The protocol for intravenous nutrition applied by the nursing team and the solutions used were the same in the three groups. In group A standard bottles were used, while in group B, 31PVC-disposable bags were used--with fat emulsion included (group B1) or with fat excluded (group B2). When fat was excluded from the bags it was infused separately from a bottle. The mixtures were made under laminar flow by the nursing team who applied a strict protocol which included bacteriological testing. The infection rate observed in the bags was 0.046%. The rate of septic complications was not significantly reduced in group B2 or B1 compared with group A; the type of container used was therefore unimportant and the key was the aseptic handling of the intravenous solutions. The rate of mechanical complications, mainly due to catheter obstruction, was higher (p less than 0.001) when fat was included in the bags--that is, in group B1--than in groups B2 and A. For 26 patients a cyclical regime of intermittent feeding was easier to manage when bags were used. In group B, this system replaced the continuous method n 75% of all therapeutic days without adverse effect; it improved compliance and allowed ambulatory treatment. The use of cyclical feeding with separate fat infusions has further reduced the hazards of intravenous nutrition and allowed the development of a programme that can be implemented at home.