Antimicrobial therapy of Broviac catheter infections in pediatric hematology oncology patients.

Long-term therapy of pediatric oncology patients has been facilitated by permanent indwelling venous catheters. Over a 3-year period, 54 Broviac catheters were placed in 43 oncology patients and two hemophiliacs. There were 20 episodes of sepsis in 14 patients and the most common bacteria were S epidermidis (4), S aureus (4), and K pneumoniae (3). Catheter exit site infections occurred ten times in six patients; S aureus eight of ten. Antibiotic therapy without catheter removal was successful in 18 of 20 children with catheter sepsis and 8 of 10 patients with exit site infections. These data strongly suggest that although catheter-related infections are common, removal of Broviac catheters is not required for successful treatment of the infection.