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Correlation between “malfunctioning events” and catheter-related infections in pediatric cancer patients bearing tunneled indwelling central venous catheter: results of a prospective observational study

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Abstract

Aim of the study

To evaluate the possible link between malfunctioning events and catheter related infections in indwelling central venous devices in children with cancer.

Patients and methods

Prospective observation of 418 devices inserted in 2 Italian tertiary care pediatric cancer centers. The presence of a relationship was identified if a malfunctioning event was followed by a catheter related infection within 10 days, or vice versa.

Results

The 418 catheters were followed for a period of 107,012 days. Among the malfunctioning events 2 out of 141 (1%) were followed by a catheter related infection while among infectious episodes 3 out of 93 (3%) were followed by a malfunctioning event.

Conclusions

Malfunctioning events followed by catheter related infections and catheter related infections followed by malfunctioning are both rare events in children with cancer.

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Acknowledgements

The study was partially supported by a grant from the G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, by the Fondazione CARIGE, and by the Italian Association for Research on Neuroblastoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Hematology and Oncology, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Elio Castagnola

  2. Department of Surgery, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Giuseppe Fratino

  3. Department of Hematology, Ospedale Regina Margherita–S. Anna, Turin, Italy

    Mariangela Valera & Mareva Giacchino

  4. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Section, Scientific Directorate, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Largo G. Gaslini, 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy

    Riccardo Haupt

  5. Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit, Department of Hematology and Oncology, G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Angelo Claudio Molinari

Authors
  1. Elio Castagnola
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  2. Giuseppe Fratino
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  3. Mariangela Valera
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  4. Mareva Giacchino
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  5. Riccardo Haupt
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  6. Angelo Claudio Molinari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Riccardo Haupt.

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Castagnola, E., Fratino, G., Valera, M. et al. Correlation between “malfunctioning events” and catheter-related infections in pediatric cancer patients bearing tunneled indwelling central venous catheter: results of a prospective observational study. Support Care Cancer 13, 757–759 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0802-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0802-y

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