Low rate of bacteremia with a subcutaneously implanted central venous access device.

Purpose: Patients at long-term acute care hospitals (LTACs) are medically complex with multiple comorbidities and high rates of antibiotic and device use. The objective of the study was to analyze the incidence and rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and the critical factors for patient care, management, placement and maintenance of the implanted central venous access device at this LTAC.

Methods: A 13-year retrospective chart review was performed comprising 191 medically complex patients with multiple comorbidities who had an implanted central line port.

Management of Port-a-Cath devices in long-term acute care hospitals.

A reliable means of maintaining an intravascular access device (IVAD) is an important aspect of care for a patient in a long-term acute care (LTAC) setting. Overall, various authors have confirmed that complication rates are lower with use of an IVAD. The key to this success in low complication rates appears to be a team approach to catheter care and management.