Antibiotic prophylaxis in the placement of totally implanted central venous access ports.

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic prophylaxis during placement of implanted central venous access ports (CVAP) has not been studied. This retrospective review compared the rate of catheter-related infections (CRIs) with and without perioperative antibiotics.

METHODS

This was a single-center study that compared patients treated with and without a single dose of antibiotics during CVAP placement. CRIs were defined as a patient treated with antibiotics for port site induration, positive blood cultures, or suspicion of infection that led to port removal within 30 days of placement.

RESULTS

CVAP were placed in 459 patients, 103 of whom (22.4%) received antibiotic prophylaxis. Surgical technique and patient demographics were similar to those patients not receiving antibiotics (356). All 9 (2%) CRIs occurred in the non-prophylactic antibiotic group (P = .218), with 5 infections resulting in port removal.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-dose perioperative antibiotics may decrease CVAP infection rates and should be studied further in a prospective randomized trial.