INTRODUCTION: Totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) or ports are increasingly used in oncology settings to provide long-term, easy venous access. This study reports our experience and results with 1180 cases in Singapore. METHOD: Data from January 2019 to January 2022, obtained from a hospital-approved secure database application called the Research Electronic Data Capture registry, were reviewed and analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 1180 patients underwent TIVAD implantation with a 100% technical success rate. The mean age of the cohort was 61.9 years. The mean dwell duration was 342 days (standard deviation [SD] 223; range 3-1911). By 1 February 2022, 83% of patients were still using the TIVAD, 13.6 % underwent removal after completion of treatment, 2.1% were removed due to infection, 0.6% due to malfunction, 0.6% due to port extrusion and 0.1% at patient's request. The right internal jugular vein (IJV) was the most commonly accessed site (83.6%), followed by the left IJV (15.6%). The early post-procedure complications were pain (24.7%), bruising (9.2%), swelling (3.6%), bleeding (0.5%), fever (0.4%), itchiness (0.2%) and allergic dermatitis (0.1%). The delayed post-procedure complications were TIVAD site cellulitis (3.80%); discharge (1.10%); skin erosion with device extrusion (0.60%); malpositioned catheter (0.33%), which was successfully repositioned, catheter-related bloodstream infections (0.25%); migration of TIVAD leading to catheter dislodgement (0.25%); venous thrombosis (0.25%); fibrin sheath formation requiring stripping (0.10%) and TIVAD chamber inversion (0.10%). CONCLUSION TIVAD implantation via the jugular vein under radiological guidance provides a safe, reliable and convenient means of long-term venous access in oncology patients. By sharing our experience and acceptable outcomes from a large oncology cohort, we aim to increase the awareness and adoption of TIVAD usage in oncology patients, especially in Asia.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Catheterization, Central Venous/instrumentation* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects* ; Adult ; Jugular Veins/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Catheter-Related Infections/epidemiology* ; Central Venous Catheters/adverse effects*

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Catheter-Related Infections/microbiology* ; China ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy* ; Prosthesis-Related Infections/microbiology* ; SARS-CoV-2

No abstract available.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Catheter-Related Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Color ; Equipment Design ; Escherichia coli Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/surgery ; Urinary Catheterization/adverse effects/*instrumentation ; *Urinary Catheters ; *Urinary Diversion ; Urinary Tract Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Urine/chemistry/microbiology

PURPOSE: To date, the risk factors for central venous port-related bloodstream infection (CVP-BSI) in solid cancer patients have not been fully elucidated. We conducted this study in order to determine the risk factors for CVP-BSI in patients with solid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,642 patients with solid cancer received an implantable central venous port for delivery of chemotherapy between October 2008 and December 2011 in a single center. CVP-BSI was diagnosed in 66 patients (4%). We selected a control group of 130 patients, who were individually matched with respect to age, sex, and catheter insertion time. RESULTS: CVP-BSI occurred most frequently between September and November (37.9%). The most common pathogen was gram-positive cocci (n=35, 53.0%), followed by fungus (n=14, 21.2%). Multivariate analysis identified monthly catheter-stay as a risk factor for CVP-BSI (p=0.000), however, its risk was lower in primary gastrointestinal cancer than in other cancer (p=0.002). Initial metastatic disease and long catheter-stay were statistically significant factors affecting catheter life span (p=0.005 and p=0.000). Results of multivariate analysis showed that recent transfusion was a risk factor for mortality in patients with CVP-BSI (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: In analysis of the results with respect to risk factors, prolonged catheter-stay should be avoided as much as possible. It is necessary to be cautious of CVP-BSI in metastatic solid cancer, especially non-gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, avoidance of unnecessary transfusion is essential in order to reduce the mortality of CVP-BSI. Finally, considering the fact that confounding factors may have affected the results, conduct of a well-designed prospective controlled study is warranted.
Case-Control Studies* ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Drug Therapy ; Fungi ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of infections associated with implantable venous access ports (IVAPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2003 through November 2011, 1747 IVAPs were placed in our interventional radiology suite. One hundred forty four IVAPs were inserted in patients with hematologic malignancy and 1603 IVAPs in patients with solid tumors. Among them, 40 ports (23 women and 17 men; mean age, 57.1 years; range, 13-83) were removed to treat port-related infections. We evaluated the incidence of port-related infection, patient characteristics, bacteriologic data, and patient progress. Univariable analyses (t test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test) and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors for IVAP related infection. RESULTS: Overall, 40 (2.3%) of 1747 ports were removed for symptoms of infection with an incidence rate of 0.067 events/1000 catheter-days. According to the univariable study, the incidences of infection were seemingly higher in the patients who received the procedure during inpatient treatment (p = 0.016), the patients with hematologic malignancy (p = 0.041), and the patients receiving palliative chemotherapy (p = 0.022). From the multiple binary logistic regression, the adjusted odds ratios of infection in patients with hematologic malignancies and those receiving palliative chemotherapy were 7.769 (p = 0.001) and 4.863 (p = 0.003), respectively. Microorganisms were isolated from 26 (65%) blood samples, and two of the most causative organisms were found to be Staphylococcus (n = 10) and Candida species (n = 7). CONCLUSION: The underlying hematologic malignancy and the state of receiving palliative chemotherapy were the independent risk factors of IVAP-related infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analysis of Variance ; Catheter-Related Infections/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Catheters, Indwelling/*adverse effects ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Palliative Care/statistics & numerical data ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Access Devices/*adverse effects ; Young Adult

Brugada syndrome is a rare channelopathy associated with the SCN5A gene that causes fatal ventricular arrhythmias. This case of Brugada syndrome, in which ventricular tachycardia (VT) was provoked by high fever, is the first report in a Korean child. The boy had retinoblastoma of his left eye diagnosed at 16 months of age. After chemotherapy, he contracted a catheter-related infection with a high fever up to 41degrees C leading to monomorphic VT. This was characterized as having right bundle branch block morphology, superior axis deviation, and a heart rate of 212/min. Direct current cardioversion recovered the VT to sinus rhythm after a lack of response to amiodarone and lidocaine. A second attack of VT that was not controlled by cardioversion, however, responded to lidocaine. The baseline electrocardiogram showed a long PR interval and QRS duration, and the patient's grandfather had a history of Brugada syndrome. A mutation in SCN5A was identified in this patient, his father, and his grandfather. The patient was treated with quinidine and followed up for 1 year.
Amiodarone ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Brugada Syndrome* ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Channelopathies ; Child ; Drug Therapy ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Fathers ; Fever ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Quinidine ; Retinoblastoma ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The high mortality attributable to persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia in spite of glycopeptide treatment has heightened the need for early detection and intervention with alternative agents. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of and risk factors for persistent MRSA bacteremia. METHODS: All first episodes of significant MRSA bacteremia at a 710-bed academic medical center from November 2009 through August 2010 were recorded. Blood cultures were conducted at 3 days and every 2 to 3 days thereafter until clearance. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between persistent MRSA bacteremia (> or = 7 days) and nonpersistent MRSA bacteremia (< or = 3 days). RESULTS: Of 79 patients with MRSA bacteremia during the study period, 31 (39.2%) had persistent MRSA bacteremia. The persistent MRSA bacteremia group had significantly higher 30-day mortality than the nonpersistent MRSA bacteremia group (58.1% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that metastatic infection at presentation (odds ratio [OR], 14.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.52 to 60.34; p < 0.001) and delayed catheter removal in catheter-related infection (OR, 3.80; 95% CI, 1.04 to 13.88; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of persistent MRSA bacteremia. Patients with a time to blood culture positivity (TTP) of < 11.8 hours were at increased risk of persistent MRSA bacteremia (29.0% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: High mortality in patients with persistent MRSA bacteremia was noted. Early detection of metastatic infection and early removal of infected intravascular catheters should be considered to reduce the risk of persistent MRSA bacteremia. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of TTP for predicting persistent MRSA bacteremia.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Catheter-Related Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Catheters, Indwelling/*adverse effects ; Comorbidity ; Device Removal ; Female ; Hospital Bed Capacity ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasms/microbiology/mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

INTRODUCTIONCentral venous catheters (CVCs) are becoming more popular for delivery of outpatient courses of intravenous therapy such as chemotherapy and long-term antibiotics. The incidence of non-tunnelled type CVC-related infections in patients with solid tumours receiving chemotherapy in an ambulatory setting has not been well studied. We aimed to determine the baseline data on CVC-related infections in this retrospective study conducted from January 2005 to December 2007.

METHODSData on cancer patients with CVCs inserted as outpatients at National Cancer Centre Singapore over a three-year period were collected and analysed retrospectively. Data retrieved from medical records included patients' demographics, the number of catheter days, cancer type and other medical illnesses. Definitions from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for CVC-related infections were used. For data analysis, graphical and quantitative techniques were employed.

RESULTSA total of 88 CVCs were inserted during the study period, with a total of 11,541 catheter days (median 114; range 2-510 days). Infection rate was 0.87 per 1,000 catheter days. The risk of infection was higher when catheters were left in situ for longer periods of time and in patients with solid tumours.

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate for non-tunnelled type CVCs is low in our centre. Hence, its use for chemotherapy on an outpatient basis is relatively safe and convenient in oncologic patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Catheter-Related Infections ; epidemiology ; Central Venous Catheters ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Candida haemulonii, one of the non-albicans Candida species, is an emerging yeast pathogen that is known to be resistant to amphotericin B and other antifungal agents such as azoles. These anti-fungal agents have often been associated with clinical treatment failure, so no treatment regimen has been clearly established for invasive C. haemulonii infections. We investigated a catheter-related infection of C. haemulonii candidemia in an adult patient in long-term hospital care. In the early stages, the candidemia remained persistent despite treatment with fluconazole. However, after changing the antifungal agent to caspofungin, the candidemia was resolved. Fluconazole and amphotericin B are not reliable empirical antifungal agents for invasive C. haemulonii infections, as shown in previous case reports. An echinocandin such as caspofungin may be an appropriate empirical choice of antifungal agent for an invasive C. haemulonii infection.
Aged ; Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; Candida/classification/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Candidiasis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Catheter-Related Infections/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Echinocandins/therapeutic use ; Fluconazole/therapeutic use ; *Hospitals ; Humans ; *Long-Term Care ; Male ; Phylogeny

Catheter-Related Infections ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Catheters, Indwelling ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control