Catheter-associated urinary tract infection and urinary tract abnormalities in young children: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies investigating the role of urinary tract abnormalities in the development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in young children are limited. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to determine whether there is an association between CAUTI and urinary tract abnormalities. METHODS: We performed abdominal imaging studies on all patients aged <6 years with CAUTI admitted to the pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and high care unit (HCU) at Keio university or Fukuoka Children's Hospital from April 1, 2018 to July 31, 2022. Among 40 children who developed CAUTI, 13 (33 %) had abnormal urogenital images. Further, two case-control studies were conducted before and after propensity score matching, and the groups were compared using multivariable logistic regression models to analyze the effects of various factors on CAUTI development. RESULTS: In the multivariate logistic regression models, abnormal urogenital images (OR 5.30 [95 % CI, 2.40-11.7] and OR 3.44 [95 % CI, 1.16-9.93]) and duration of catheterization >10 days (OR 2.76 [95 % CI, 1.28-5.96] and OR 3.44 [95 % CI, 1.16-9.93]) were found to be significantly associated with development of CAUTI, both before (39 cases, 459 controls) and after propensity score matching (36 cases, 72 controls). Further, CAUTI in young children in the PICU or HCU was significantly associated with imaging abnormalities of the urinary tract. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that not only the presence of catheters, but also urinary tract malformations may contribute to the development of CAUTI in young children.

Central Venous Catheter-related Bloodstream Infections Caused by Enterobacterales in Pediatric Oncology Patients: Catheter Salvage or Removal.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine whether salvage treatment with systemic antibiotics is a safe and effective strategy for Enterobacterales bloodstream infections (BSI) in pediatric oncology patients with a central venous catheter (CVC). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on oncology and stem cell recipient patients with a CVC and blood culture with Enterobacterales , at the Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Analyses were performed for all BSI and for episodes meeting central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) criteria. The cumulative incidence of an event (ie, removal, intensive care admission or death) was estimated after blood culture collection for episodes primarily treated with antibiotics. The effect of prognostic factors on the hazard of the event of interest was assessed by estimating a Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: In total, 95 CVC-related Enterobacterales BSIs in 82 patients were included; 12 (13%) BSIs required immediate CVC removal and for 83 (87%) BSIs CVC salvage was attempted. The cumulative incidence of events at 60 days was 53.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 41.7-63.1] for BSIs (n = 83), and 64.4% (95% CI: 48.3-76.7) for CLABSIs (n = 45). The events occurred after a median of 6 (Q1-Q3: 2-15) and 6 (Q1-Q3: 2-20) days for BSIs and CLABSIs, respectively. Intensive care admission after salvage treatment was required in 16% of the BSIs and CLABSIs, resulting in death in 5% and 2% of cases, respectively. No significant association between risk factors and events was found. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative incidence of an event at 60 days after salvage treatment for Enterobacterales CLABSIs and BSIs in pediatric oncology patients is high. Immediate CVC removal appears recommendable for this patient group.

Etiology of nosocomial infections in intensive care patients in German hospitals: An analysis of trends between 2008 and 2022.

PURPOSE: Data from the intensive care component of the German hospital infection surveillance system (KISS) was used to investigate the epidemiology of pathogens responsible for the most frequent device-associated infections and their development over time. METHOD: The 10 most common pathogens were identified for ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VALRTI), catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and central venous catheter associated bloodstream infections (CVC-BSI). The development over time was analyzed based on three five-year time periods: 2008-2012, 2013-2017, 2018-2022. RESULTS: Data from 1425 ICUs were included together with 121,762 device-associated infections with 138,299 isolated pathogens. A remarkable and significant increase in the frequency of Klebsiella spp. was found for VALRTI, that was almost twice as high during 2018-2022 compared to 2008-2012. For CAUTI, there was a significant increase of all Enterobacterales with the most prominent increase in Klebsiella spp. With regard to CVC-BSI, the situation for coagulase-negative staphylococci and E. coli was relatively stable; while there was a significant increase in Enterococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. and a decrease in S. aureus. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about the current frequency of pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections in intensive care units is important for guiding empirical antimicrobial therapy. Data from national nosocomial infection surveillance systems can provide relevant information about the development of pathogens.

Invasive Malassezia Infections.

The Malassezia species are dimorphic fungi that require lipids such as olive oil for their growth. They are constituents of the normal human skin microbiota and can affix to the host or other surfaces through the establishment of biofilms. Malassezia species are accountable for superficial mycoses like folliculitis. Additionally, they are capable of causing invasive infections, such as of the bloodstream, in neonates and immunocompromised patients, albeit infrequently. Catheter-associated bloodstream infections in neonates are the most commonly reported invasive cases. Remarkably, unlike other invasive fungal infections, neutropenia and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics do not seem to contribute to the risk of invasive Malassezia infections. Nosocomial outbreaks of Malassezia infections have been reported. While most cases of invasive Malassezia infection are fungemia, they seldom give rise to disseminated lesions in various organs. The diagnosis can be confirmed by the visualization of characteristic yeasts through histologic or cytologic examination of a biopsy or needle aspiration specimen, or via positive culture results from sterile sites. The prognosis for invasive Malassezia infection is generally favorable, with few reports of treatment failure. Nevertheless, due to the limited number of cases, evidence-based treatment recommendations are wanting. Management of invasive Malassezia infections linked to central venous catheters includes removal of the catheter, cessation of intravenous lipid emulsion, and intravenous administration of appropriate antifungal agents.

Reducing the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections; a quality improvement project.

BACKGROUND: The burden of central line-associated bloodstream infections is significant and has negative implications for healthcare, increasing morbidity and mortality risks, increasing inpatient hospital stays, and increasing the cost of hospitalization. Efforts to reduce the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections have utilized quality improvement projects that implement, measure, and monitor outcomes. However, variations in location, healthcare organization, patient risks, and practice gaps are key to the success of interventions and approaches. This study aims to evaluate interventions of a quality improvement project on the reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infection rates at a university teaching hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of a quality improvement project that was implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement cycle. Active surveillance of processes and outcomes was performed in the critical care areas; compliance to central line care bundles, and central line-associated bloodstream infections. Interrupted time series was used to analyze trends pre and post-intervention and regression modeling to estimate data segments preceding and succeeding the interventions. RESULTS: There were 350 central line insertions, 3912 catheter days, and 20 central line-associated bloodstream infection events during the intervention period. Compliance with central line care bundles was at 94%. There was a trend in the reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infections by 18% that did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.252). CONCLUSIONS: Improvement projects to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections face challenges and complexities associated with implementing interventions in real-world healthcare settings. There is a great need to continuously monitor, evaluate, readjust, and adapt interventions to achieve desired results, sustain improvements in patient outcomes, and investigate reasons for non-adherence as keys to achieving desired outcomes.

Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections among patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs) are notable complications among patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis. However, data on the prevalence of CRBSIs is lacking. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with CRBSIs among patients receiving haemodialysis in the renal unit of the largest tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis via central venous catheters (CVC) between September 2021 and April 2022. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors that were predictive of CRBSI. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 and a p-value<0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of CRBSI was 34.2% (52/152). Of these, more than half of them (53.9%(28/52)) had Possible CRBSI while 11.5% (6/52) had Definite CRBSI. Among the positive cultures, 62% (21/34) were from catheter sites whilst the rest were from peripheral blood. Gram-negative cultures made up 53% (18/34) of positive cultures with the rest being Gram positive cultures. Acinetobacter baumannii (33.3% (6/18)) was the commonest organism isolated among Gram-negative cultures whilst Coagulase negative Staphylococci (43.7% (7/16)) was the commonest organism isolated among Gram-positve cultures. Gram-negative bacilli were more predominant in this study making up 52.9% of the total bacteria cultured. Sex, duration of maintenance dialysis, underlying cause of End-stage kidney disease, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), neutrophil count and lymphocyte count were significantly predictive of CRBSI status (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of CRBSI among patients undergoing haemodialysis. The commonest causative agent was Coagulase negative Staphylococci, however there was a predominance of Gram-negative bacilli as compared to Gram positive cocci. There is a need to set up infection surveillance unit in the renal unit to track CRBSI and put in place measures to reduce these CRBSI.

Prospective cohort study of incidence and risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infections in 145 intensive care units of 9 Latin American countries: INICC findings.

PURPOSE: Identify urinary catheter (UC)-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) incidence and risk factors (RF) in Latin American Countries. METHODS: From 01/01/2014 to 02/10/2022, we conducted a prospective cohort study in 145 ICUs of 67 hospitals in 35 cities in nine Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. To estimate CAUTI incidence, we used the number of UC-days as the denominator, and the number of CAUTIs as numerator. To estimate CAUTI RFs, we analyzed the following 10 variables using multiple logistic regression: gender, age, length of stay (LOS) before CAUTI acquisition, UC-days before CAUTI acquisition, UC-device utilization (DU) ratio, UC-type, hospitalizationtype, ICU type, facility ownership, and time period. RESULTS: 31,631 patients, hospitalized for 214,669 patient-days, acquired 305 CAUTIs. The pooled CAUTI rate per 1000 UC-days was 2.58, for those using suprapubic catheters, it was 2.99, and for those with indwelling catheters, it was 2.21. The following variables were independently associated with CAUTI: age, rising risk 1% yearly (aOR = 1.01; 95% CI 1.01-1.02; p < 0.0001 female gender (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.01-1.61; p = 0.04), LOS before CAUTI acquisition, rising risk 7% daily (aOR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.06-1.08; p < 0.0001, UC/DU ratio (aOR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.08-1.21; p < 0.0001, public facilities (aOR = 2.89; 95% CI 1.75-4.49; p < 0.0001. The periods 2014-2016 and 2017-2019 had significantly higher risks than the period 2020-2022. Suprapubic catheters showed similar risks as indwelling catheters. CONCLUSION: The following CAUTI RFs are unlikely to change: age, gender, hospitalization type, and facility ownership. Based on these findings, it is suggested to focus on reducing LOS, UC/DU ratio, and implementing evidence-based CAUTI prevention recommendations.

Percutaneous nephrostomy catheter-related infections in patients with gynaecological cancers: a multidisciplinary algorithmic approach.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous nephrostomy catheters (PCNs) are commonly utilized in patients with gynaecological cancers due to intrinsic or extrinsic urinary obstruction. Unfortunately, these foreign medical devices may be associated with several infectious complications, including: pyelonephritis, renal abscess, and bacteraemia, which may lead to further delay of life-saving cancer therapy. AIM: To evaluate the performance of our multidisciplinary algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of PCN-related infections (PCNIs) and identify risk factors for recurrent urinary device-related infections. METHODS: Patients with gynaecological cancers having PCNIs were prospectively evaluated at our institution from July 2019 to September 2021. All patients were managed by our standardized algorithm and followed-up until reinfection or routine PCN exchange. FINDINGS: Of 100 consecutive patients with PCNIs, 74 had adequate follow-up, and were analysed in three groups according to clinical outcome: reinfection with the same organism (26%), reinfection with a different organism (23%), and no reinfection (51%). Their median age was 54 years, and the most common cancers were cervical (65%), and ovarian (19%) with 53% being metastatic. The most frequently recovered micro-organisms were Pseudomonas (32%), Enterococcus (27%), and Escherichia (24%) species. The main risk factors for recurrent PCNI with the same organism were pelvic radiation therapy (P=0.032), pelvic fistulas (P=0.014), and a PCNI with the same pathogen within the previous year (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Our algorithm has allowed for accurate diagnosis, staging, and treatment of and identification of several key risk factors for recurrent PCNIs. These results may lead to further preventive measures for these infections.

Risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infection by catheter type in a neonatal intensive care unit: a large cohort study of more than 1100 intravascular catheters.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) among different catheter types using a large prospective database in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care centre in Switzerland. METHODS: We included all neonates admitted to the NICU with at least one central intravascular catheter inserted between January 2017 and December 2020. We used marginal Cox model to determine the risk of CABSI among different catheter types. RESULTS: A total of 574 neonates and 1103 intravascular catheters were included in the study: 581 venous umbilical catheters, 198 arterial umbilical catheters and 324 peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). We identified 17, four and four CABSIs in neonates with venous umbilical catheters, arterial umbilical catheters and PICCs, respectively. The risk of CABSI increased after two days of umbilical catheter maintenance. Using univariable Cox models, and adjusting for sex and gestational age, we observed a similar CABSI risk between venous and arterial umbilical catheters (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.16e2.08). Birth weight was associated with CABSI, with higher weight being protective (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16e0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Strategies aimed at reducing umbilical catheter dwell time, particularly in low and very low birth weight neonates, may be effective in decreasing the incidence of CABSI in this population.

Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare-associated infections: Antimicrobial consumption does not follow antimicrobial resistance.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) rates and antimicrobial consumption in Intensive Care Units (ICU) in São Paulo city during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare them with the pre-pandemic period. METHODS: This cohort included all hospitals that reported HAI rates (Central-Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection ‒ CLABSI and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia ‒ VAP), the proportion of microorganisms that caused CLABSI, the proportion of resistant microorganisms, and antimicrobial consumption from January 2017 ‒ December 2020. Hospitals were stratified by the number of beds, Central Venous Catheter (CVC) utilization rate, Mechanical-Ventilation (MV) utilization rate, and type of funding. Statistical analyses were based on time-series plots and regression models. RESULTS: 220 ICUs were included. The authors observed an abrupt increase in CLABSI rates after the pandemic onset. High CLABSI rates during the pandemic were associated with hospital size, funding (public and non-profit private), and low CVC use (≤ 50%). An increase in VAP rates was associated with public hospitals, and high MV use (> 35%). The susceptibility profile of microorganisms did not differ from that of the pre-pandemic period. polymyxin, glycopeptides, and antifungal use increased, especially in COVID-19 ICUs. CONCLUSIONS: HAI increased during COVID-19. The microorganisms' susceptibility profile did not change with the pandemic, but the authors observed a disproportionate increase in large-spectrum antimicrobial drug use.

Evaluation of risk factors, causative pathogens, and treatment in recurrent percutaneous nephrostomy catheter-related urinary tract infections in cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: In cancer patients, percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) catheters can be used to relieve obstruction from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, thereby improving kidney function and preventing further kidney damage. One of the complications of PN catheters is infections. Recurrent infections may delay chemotherapy, increase antimicrobial resistance with frequent antibiotic use, deteriorate the quality of life of patients, and increase costs. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate risk factors, causative pathogens, and treatment in recurrent PN catheter-related urinary tract infections in cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cancer patients with PN catheter-associated urinary tract infection who were followed-up in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021 were included in the study. RESULTS: The total catheterization time, and occurrence of preinfection catheter replacement, active chemotherapy, and kidney stones were significantly higher in patients with recurrent infection when compared to the other group (P = .000, P = .000, P = .007, and P = .018, respectively). ESBL-positive Escherichia coli and ESBL-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae were most commonly isolated from the PN catheter urine cultures of patients with recurrent infections. DISCUSSION: Long-term use of the PN catheter increases the risk of urinary tract infection and sepsis. In this study, the total catheterization time, and occurrence of preinfection catheter replacement, active chemotherapy, and kidney stones were found to be risk factors for the development of recurrent PN catheter-related urinary tract infection in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: It is important to know the risk factors in recurrent PN catheter-related urinary tract infections in cancer patients, take maximum protective measures, and follow-up. Knowing both the causative profile and the resistance rates will increase the chance of success in the treatment when empirical treatment is required. It should also be noted that these patients should be included in the group of patients who need prophylaxis for urinary tract infection.

Bloodstream Infections in Infants and Children With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery are at risk for laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infections (LCBIs). These infections can lead to morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. The role of mucosal barrier injury in causing LCBIs is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe characteristics of LCBIs in patients admitted to cardiac intensive care and step-down units and to assess frequencies of National Healthcare Safety Network infection types and associations with organism classification, patient clinical factors, and infection outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis using manual electronic medical record data abstraction included children with congenital heart disease who developed an LCBI while receiving inpatient cardiac care between August 2011 and November 2018 at one institution. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome variables were collected and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients with congenital heart disease developed 103 LCBIs during the study time frame. The most common causative microorganisms were gram-positive bacteria, including Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Sixty-three percent of causative organisms were characterized as originating from mucosal barrier injury, although no infections met National Healthcare Safety Network criteria for mucosal barrier injury LCBIs. CONCLUSIONS: Translocation of bacteria through injured gut mucosa may cause bloodstream infections in children with congenital heart disease. Further investigation is warranted to understand microbiome changes that adversely select pathogenic gut organisms. Preventive care to maintain intact gut function and a healthy microbiome should be explored for this patient population.

Efficacy of vancomycin lock therapy for totally implantable venous access port-related infection due to coagulase-negative staphylococci in 100 patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Data on the efficacy of vancomycin catheter lock therapy (VLT) for conservative treatment of totally implantable venous access port-related infections (TIVAP-RI) due to CoNS are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of VLT in the treatment of TIVAP-RI due to CoNS in cancer patients. METHODS: This prospective, observational, multicentre study included adults with cancer treated with VLT for a TIVAP-RI due to CoNS. The primary endpoint was the success of VLT, defined as no TIVAP removal nor TIVAP-RI recurrence within 3 months after initiation of VLT. The secondary endpoint was 3 month mortality. Risk factors for VLT failure were also analysed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included [men 53%, median age 63 years (IQR 53-72)]. Median duration of VLT was 12 days (IQR 9-14). Systemic antibiotic therapy was administered in 87 patients. VLT was successful in 44 patients. TIVAP could be reused after VLT in 51 patients. Recurrence of infection after completion of VLT occurred in 33 patients, among which TIVAP was removed in 27. Intermittent VLT (antibiotic solution left in place in the TIVAP lumen part of the time) was identified as a risk factor for TIVAP-RI recurrence. At 3 months, 26 deaths were reported; 1 (4%) was related to TIVAP-RI. CONCLUSIONS: At 3 months, success of VLT for TIVAP-RI due to CoNS was low. However, removing TIVAP was avoided in nearly half the patients. Continuous locks should be preferred to intermittent locks. Identifying factors of success is essential to select patients who may benefit from VLT.

Ethanol lock therapy increases mechanical catheter complications in a pediatric intestinal failure population: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) decreases central line-associated bloodstream infections; however, the effect on mechanical catheter complications is unclear. In recent years, ELT has become unavailable for many patients, often resulting in high-risk patients switching back to heparin locks. We investigated the impact of ELT on mechanical catheter complications during this period. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of the Boston Children's Hospital intestinal rehabilitation program from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. Pediatric patients with a central venous catheter requiring parenteral support for 3 months were included. The primary outcome was the composite rate of mechanical catheter complications (repairs and replacements). RESULTS: The pediatric intestinal failure cohort consisted of 122 patients. Forty-four percent received ELT for the entirety of the study period, 29% used only heparin locks, and 27% used ELT and heparin locks at different periods. During ELT use, there was 1.65 times the risk of mechanical catheter complications (composite outcome of repairs and replacements) compared with heparin locks (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.18-2.31). Current ELT use was associated with 2.3 times the risk of catheter repairs (aIRR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.36-3.89) but no significant increase in catheter replacement risk (aIRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.91-2.20). CONCLUSION: In the largest pediatric intestinal failure cohort evaluated to date, the use of ELT, compared with heparin locks, increased the risk of mechanical catheter complications. Mechanical complications carry morbidity requiring urgent clinic or emergency department visits and additional procedures. The investigation of alternative lock solutions is warranted.

Central venous catheter contamination rate in suspected sepsis patients: an observational clinical study.

BACKGROUND: More than 160,000 central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are estimated for Europe each year, leading to about 25,000 deaths. AIM: To characterize the contamination of administration sets in suspected CLABSI cases in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: In ICU patients (from February 2017 to February 2018) with suspected CLABSI, all sampled central venous catheters (CVCs) were examined in four segments (from CVC tip to connected tubing systems) for contamination. A risk factor analysis using binary logistic regression was performed. FINDINGS: Fifty-two consecutively sampled CVCs with 1004 elements were analysed with 45 elements being positive for at least one micro-organism (4.48%). There was a significant association with the duration of catheterization (P = 0.038, N = 50) with a daily increase of contamination risk by 11.5% (odds ratio: 1.115). The mean number of CVC manipulations was 40 within 72 h (standard deviation: 20.5), with no association with contamination risk (P = 0.381). The contamination risk of the CVC segments decreased from proximal to distal. Non-replaceable components of the CVC had a high risk (14 times higher; P = 0.01). A significant positive correlation was detected between positive tip cultures and microbial growth in the administration set (r(49) = 0.437; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although only a minority of CLABSI-suspect patients had positive blood cultures, the contamination rate of CVCs and administration set was high, possibly indicating a relevant underreporting. The finding of identical species in adjacent segments underlines the role of upward or downward spread of micro-organisms within the tubes; therefore, aseptic tasks should be emphasized.

Clinical study of complications of a peripherally inserted central catheter in cancer patients.

AIM: To evaluate complications after PICC use in cancer patients. DESIGN: This was a clinical and retrospective study in which the risk factors and complications of PICC use were evaluated. METHODS: This study was carried out in the patient, emergency room, and intensive care units through the evaluation of electronic medical records. To assess the association between qualitative variables, the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test was used, and to compare the reason for withdrawal, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied. RESULTS: A total of 359 patients (53.5% men) with 43.1 ± 14 years who had a PICC (88% with solid tumours) were evaluated. The most common complications were mechanical complications (61.2%), infection (38%), and thrombosis (57.1%). Patients with double-lumen catheters experienced thrombosis (85.7%). This study demonstrated the effectiveness of PICC and that patients with haematological cancer are more prone to multiple PICC passages and more mechanical complications and infections.

Incidence of Midline Catheter Complications Among Hospitalized Patients.

The use of midline catheters has increased to reduce excessive use of central venous access devices, and additional data on midline catheter complications are needed. This study aimed to describe midline catheter complications among hospitalized patients. This retrospective study included a random sample of 300 hospitalized patients with a midline catheter insertion in 2019. The primary outcome was a composite end point of 8 complications: occlusion, bleeding at insertion site, infiltration/extravasation, catheter-related thrombosis, accidental removal, phlebitis, hematoma, and catheter-related infection. Midline catheter failure was defined as removal prior to the end of therapy due to complications. Among 300 midline catheters, the incidence of the composite end point of 1 or more midline complications was 38% (95% confidence interval, 33%-44%). Complications included occlusion (17.0%), bleeding at insertion site (12.0%), infiltration/extravasation (10.0%), catheter-related thrombosis (4.0%), accidental removal (3.0%), phlebitis (0.3%), hematoma (0.3%), and catheter-related infection (0.3%). Midline catheter failure occurred in 16% of midline catheters (n = 48) due to infiltration/extravasation (n = 27), accidental removal (n = 10), catheter-related thrombosis (n = 9), occlusion (n = 4), and catheter-related infection (n = 1). Three catheters had 2 types of failure. The most common complications of occlusion and bleeding rarely resulted in midline catheter failure. The most common causes of midline catheter failure were infiltration/extravasation, accidental removal, and catheter-related thrombosis.

Incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections following ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonographic guidance is widely used for central venous catheterization. Several studies have revealed that ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization increases the rate of success during the first attempt and reduces the procedural duration when compared to the anatomical landmark-guided insertion technique, which could result in protection from infectious complications. However, the effect of ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization on catheter-related bloodstream infections remains unclear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the value of ultrasound guidance in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections and catheter colonization associated with central venous catheterization. METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and MEDLINE (via PubMed) were searched up to May 9, 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ultrasound-guided and anatomical landmark-guided insertion techniques for central venous catheterization. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for RCTs. A meta-analysis was performed for catheter-related bloodstream infections and catheter colonization, as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Four RCTs involving 1268 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization was associated with a slightly lower incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (risk ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-1.32) and was not associated with a lower incidence of catheter colonization (risk ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.57-3.26). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization might reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections. Additional RCTs are necessary to further evaluate the value of ultrasound guidance in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections with central venous catheterization.

Management of home parenteral nutrition catheter-related bloodstream infections in hospitals outside of a specialized intestinal failure center.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) remain the commonest complication associated with home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Although the management outcomes of CRBSIs have been extensively reported by specialized intestinal failure (IF) centers, there are minimal data reporting CRBSI outcomes for HPN-dependent patients admitted to nonspecialized hospitals. METHOD: This was an observational study from a prospectively maintained database of CRBSIs in HPN-dependent patients managed outside of a specialized IF center. RESULTS: Three hundred and six patients from a total cohort of 1066 HPN-dependent patients suffered from 489 CRBSI events from 2003 to 2021; after 2017, 71 of these events were managed at the patient's local, nonspecialized hospital and the remainder at the specialized IF center. From 2017 to 2021, salvage of the central venous catheter (CVC) with antimicrobial therapy was attempted in 32 out of 71 (45.1%) patients admitted to the nonspecialized hospital, with successful salvage recorded in 23 (71.8%) cases. Notably, CVC salvage was attempted more commonly (77 out of 103 [74.8%]; P = 0.004 vs nonspecialized hospital), with a better salvage success rate (64 out of 77 [83.1%] P = 0.01 vs nonspecialized hospital) in patients who were admitted to the specialized IF center. CONCLUSION: In some instances, CRBSIs can be effectively managed when patients presenting to a nonspecialized hospital; however, overall salvage is more likely to be successful in the specialized setting. Further development of clinical and educational networks between IF centers and patients' local hospitals aimed at standardizing care may lead to improved CRBSI outcomes.