[Sepsis in children using venous implants with reservoir].

Sepsis is a serious situation in patients with chronic central venous access. The infections complications presented with totally implanted reservoirs are studied in this paper. Twenty five venous systems for chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition, specific drugs and blood drawing, were placed in 24 patients ranging in age from three months to sixteen years. Catheter related sepsis was defined as simultaneous positive blood cultures drawn through the reservoir and peripheral vein. Five children (20 per 100) had septicemia with candida albicans (3), staphylococcus aureus (1) and staphylococcus epidermidis (1). Four systems was removed after unsuccessful antimicrobial therapy. Three symptomatic patients were studied by echocardiography, one of them showed thrombosis in superior vena cava and right atrium, this child underwent an open atriotomy. These data suggest that removal of implantable venous system is required for successful treatment in patients with catheter related sepsis.