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

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.