Catheter-related infection is the most common, serious complication in patientsreceiving intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH). We investigated catheter-related infections during IVH. All patients who underwent catheterization at the department of oral and maxillo facial surgery of Ehime University Hospital with the use of a central venous catheter (CVC) for total parenteral nutrition between April 1989 and March 1997 were studied retrospectively. The incidence of catheter-related infection was 16.2%(17 patients) among 105 patients. Staphylococcus and Candida accounted for 90% of the causative microorganisms, detected in 11 cases. Catheter-related infection was not significantly associated with the duration of catheterization.
In oral and maxillofacial surgery, IVH is given mainly to postoperative patients with oral cancer or patients in the terminal stage of disease. Therefore, opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts may be an important factor for IVH catheter-related infection.
