Management of long term venous access devices in an oncology unit

This poster describes a change of practice in caring for oncology and haematology patients with long term venous access devices. The Mater hospitals microbiolgy department performed a quantative study for a period of 1 month on all patients who had long term venous access devices. It was designed to identify the reason why there had been an increase in central lines requiring removal due to infection. These infections were caused by micro organisms not usually cultured in this setting.

The bacteria identified in the central line blood culture were mostly water borne organisms such as corynebacterium – sp, Pseudomonas species. The catheter tips were also being cultured with most results being negative. The study concluded that the type of injection port (bung) used at the distal end of the venous access device contained a reservoir of moisture which grew these particular micro-organism.

It was recommended that the weekly injection port (bung) changes be ceased and be performed only when the injection port (bung) contained visible residues. In the follow up study, there was no evidence of regrowth of the micro-organisms found in the initial research. The team of health care staff of this unit have found the favourable outcome from this research is that most long term venous access devices remain in situ without evidence of infection for the duration of the patient's treatment.