Infections related to venous access devices in patients with AIDS.

The use of implanted venous access devices (VADs) for long-term administration of medications and fluids in HIV/AIDS patients has become common. This retrospective study compared infection rates in implanted external catheters and totally implanted ports. The study also investigated possible relationships between infection, type of VAD, frequency of use, compliance, home care, frequency of clinic visits, and number of inpatient hospital days. The sample consisted fo 48 AIDS patients with a total of 54 VADs. The external catheters had an infection rate of 36.5%, while the ports had an infection rate of 30.8%. A significant relationship was found between lack of compliance with care of the VAD and infection rates.