Description

Patients receiving infusion therapy in the home have a low rate of bloodstream infections. Certain risk factors can help identify those patients at increased risk who may benefit from preventive measures. The authors are from the CDC, Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai/Princess Margaret Hospitals (Toronto).


 

Risk Factor

Hazard Ratio

95% Confidence Interval

recent bone marrow transplant

5.8

3.0 to 11.3

total parenteral nutrition

4.1

2.3 to 7.2

receipt of therapy outside of the home (outpatient clinic or doctor's office)

3.6

2.2 to 5.9

use of multilumen catheter

2.8

1.7 to 4.7

previous bloodstream infection

2.5

1.5 to 4.2

 

number of risk factors =

= SUM(number of factors present)

 

Number of Risk Factors

Rate of Bloodstream Infection per 1,000 Catheter Days

0

0.16

1

0.46

2

2.22

>= 3

6.77

 

A centrally inserted venous catheter may have a higher risk than either an implanted port or a peripherally inserted catheter (although not statistically significant).


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