Comparison of Short-Term Infectious Rates Related to Implantable Venous Port Placement With and Without Prophylactic Antibiotic Administration

The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of short-term central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) related to port placement in patients who received prophylactic intravenous antibiotics compared with those who did not receive prophylactic antibiotics. A retrospective review of 545 consecutive patients who underwent implantable port placement at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, from May 2020 to June 2021 was conducted. A total of 270 patients underwent port placement with prophylactic antibiotics administration. A total of 275 patients underwent port placement without the administration of antibiotics. The rate of short-term or 30-day CLABSI in both groups was reviewed. Indications for port placement included vascular access for chemotherapy and need for long-term vascular access for intravenous hydration, intravenous immunoglobulin infusion, electroconvulsive therapy, and photophoresis. Short-term infections occurred in a total of 3 of 545 patients (0.55%). Rate of short-term infection in patients who had port placement without prophylactic antibiotics was 2 of 275 (0.72%). Rate of short-term infection in patients who underwent port placement with prophylactic antibiotics was 1 of 270 (0.37). All 3 patients presented with bacteremia and were treated with port explantation and intravenous antibiotics. Overall, 30-day CLABSI in 545 patients who underwent port placement was 0.55%. There was no significant difference in the rate of short-term infections in the group who received prophylactic antibiotics (0.37%) compared with patients who did not receive any preprocedural antibiotics (0.72%).