Follow-up of Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition With a Competent Home Infusion Nurse Decreases the Prevalence of Catheter Infections

Abstract

High rates of infection are reported in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of the support of a competent home infusion nurse on catheter-related infection rates among patients receiving HPN as well as to investigate the effect of HPN on quality of life (QOL). Seventeen HPN patients older than 18 years were visited twice weekly by a competent home infusion nurse, and QOL tests were performed over a 2-year period. The patients were evaluated regularly for signs of catheter-related infections and other complications. The catheter infection rate was found to be 1.23 per 1000 catheter-days, and QOL scores remained stable. Involvement of an experienced nurse may help implement HPN with low catheter-related infection rates.