[The risk of infection in patients with long-term epidural catheters].

In 16 pain patients with carcinoma with a total of 896 days of epidural catheter usage, one hospitalized patient developed meningitis. No general infection occurred among the outpatients. The benefit/risk ratio, satisfactory pain relief on one hand and risk of infection on the other, clearly demonstrated the advantage of long-term epidural catheter treatment in our patients, in particular in outpatients. Careful hygienic handling is essential.