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Serious complications of vascular catheter-relatedStaphylococcus aureus bacteremia in cancer patients

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Abstract

Over the period 1986 to 1989, 53 cancer patients were identified with catheter-relatedStaphylococcus aureus bacteremia at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Septic thrombosis was diagnosed in 12 (23 %) patients and was suspected in another 3 (6 %). Of the 12 patients, five developed deep-seated infections (septic emboli, endocarditis, meningitis, abscess), compared with 2 of the 38 other patients with no septic thrombosis (p<0.01). Fever persisted for more than three days after antibiotic initiation in 52 % of the patients with complications (septic thrombosis and/or deep-seated infections), compared with 19 % of those without complications (p<0.02). Of the three patients with complications who were treated for 14 days with intravenous antistaphylococcal antibiotics, two relapsed; in contrast, all of the nine patients with complications who were treated for more than 14 days (mean 4 weeks) were cured, and none relapsed (p<0.05). Of the nine patients with complications who were treated with a long course of therapy, only one required surgery. The possibility of septic thrombosis and/or deep-seated infections should be considered in all cancer patients with catheter-relatedStaphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and if present, the condition should be treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics for at least four weeks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Specialities, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 47, 77030, Houston, Texas, USA

    I. Raad, J. Narro, A. Khan, J. Tarrand, S. Vartivarian & G. P. Bodey

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  1. I. Raad
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  2. J. Narro
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  3. A. Khan
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  4. J. Tarrand
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  5. S. Vartivarian
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  6. G. P. Bodey
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Raad, I., Narro, J., Khan, A. et al. Serious complications of vascular catheter-relatedStaphylococcus aureus bacteremia in cancer patients. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 675–682 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01989970

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