Staphylococcus nasal carriage and infection of central venous ports in oncology

To assess the risk of infection of either subcutaneously implanted central venous access devices or percutaneous central venous catheters inserted via a subcutaneous tunnel in cancer patients with a positive staphylococcal nasal carriage. Prospective study. The study included 266 patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. A nasal swab was taken prior to insertion of the venous access device and the patients were followed over 30 days for the occurrence of a staphylococcal infection (hemoculture and device or site of insertion). A nasal staphylococcal nasal carriage was found in 227 patients. Out of the 15 developing a device infection, a staphylococcal nasal colonization was existing in nine patients. Bacteriological screening a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 13%. Bacteriological screening at the time of device insertion of a central venous access device is of no value for the detection of patients at risk of staphylococcal infection of the device.